MILAN, Italy – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed that Washington will no longer help Baghdad if former premier Nouri al-Maliki becomes the next prime minister, criticizing his “insane policies and ideologies.” 

“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq and, if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. 

Trump further stressed that Iraq “might make a very bad choice” by appointing Maliki, asserting that Baghdad “descended into poverty and total chaos” the last time the Shiite leader was in charge. 

“That should not be allowed to happen again,” he added. 

Maliki, a 75-year-old veteran Shiite politician, is the leader of the State of Law Coalition. He was designated as the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework’s pick for the next prime minister earlier in the week. If elected, it would mark his third term as premier. 

His previous term was riddled with rampant corruption, inflamed sectarianism, and the lightning rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) across swathes of the country. He ultimately stepped down amid major security setbacks – factors that continue to shape the debate over his potential return to office. 

His time in office also saw the start of a years-long budgetary conflict between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that has persisted thus far. The KRG has struggled to pay civil servant salaries consistently for over a decade as a result of sanctions imposed by Baghdad.

Maliki's State of Law Coalition came in third place in Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections, securing 29 seats out of the 329-seat legislature. The other two top parties were the Reconstruction and Development Alliance, led by incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, and the Sunni Taqadum Party, led by Mohammed al-Halbousi.