Trump praises Iraq PM as US completes military withdrawal

US Mission in Iraq Concludes as Trump Hails New Iraqi Leadership

Bdbusinessdaily.com – The United States has formally ended its military mission in Iraq, closing a chapter that stretched across more than two decades and reshaping the framework for future relations between Washington and Baghdad. President Donald Trump marked the withdrawal by praising Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, whom he portrayed as an important partner for Iraq’s next political phase.

In remarks posted on Truth Social, Trump described the completion of the departure as a significant moment for the United States and emphasized his confidence in al-Zaidi’s leadership. The president said he had supported the Iraqi prime minister from the outset and noted that al-Zaidi’s election victory had exceeded expectations.

“This is a Great Day for America and, importantly, we leave with Iraq having a wonderful new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, somebody I supported from the beginning and fully endorsed.”

Trump added that al-Zaidi had prevailed in an election that many had not expected him to win, calling the result a landslide. His comments connected the end of the military deployment with a broader hope that Iraq’s government can manage its affairs without a continuing American combat presence.

Operation Inherent Resolve Formally Ends

The Pentagon confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the United States and its coalition partners had officially brought Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq to a close. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the conclusion of the mission, which had focused on the campaign against the caliphate established by the Islamic State group.

Trump said the departure of the remaining American troops represented the end of a lengthy period of US military involvement in Iraq. He argued that earlier decisions had drawn the United States into a difficult and costly conflict, while saying that the country was now leaving that period behind.

“It has been a long time, with very bad decision-making that got us involved in this quagmire in the first place, but soon, that will be part of History.”

The president described the withdrawal as a decision to bring American personnel home rather than maintain an indefinite deployment. For Iraq, the conclusion of the coalition mission places greater attention on the responsibilities of its national leadership and security institutions as the country enters a new stage in its relationship with the United States.

Departure From Erbil Air Base

Trump characterized the movement of coalition personnel and equipment out of Erbil Air Base as an orderly end to the US mission. He said the operation involved the removal of both forces and military equipment, presenting it as a deliberate and organized exit rather than an abrupt departure.

At a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration later in the day, Trump returned to the subject of Iraq and again voiced support for al-Zaidi. He said he was proud of the prime minister and expressed hope that he would perform successfully in office.

“He will hopefully be able to handle things very well. We came to fight a caliphate. There is no longer a caliphate. We are going home!”

Trump’s description of the mission underscored the stated purpose of Operation Inherent Resolve: confronting the caliphate that had emerged in Iraq and the wider region. By declaring that the caliphate no longer exists, he framed the military exit as the completion of the objective that had justified the coalition campaign.

The president used especially stark language when discussing the length and expense of the American involvement. Referring to the conclusion of the operation at Erbil Air Base, he called it the end of a “very expensive excursion into hell.” He also stressed that US equipment was removed during the withdrawal.

“And again, we took all of our equipment. I said, ‘Take a little longer. Take everyone.’ We left all of the equipment.”

While the wording of Trump’s final sentence appeared to contrast with his preceding statement about taking equipment out, his broader message was that the withdrawal had been conducted with attention to personnel and military assets. The administration presented the departure as a planned conclusion to the coalition’s work in Iraq.

A New Phase for US-Iraq Relations

Trump said he had weighed whether to retain US forces in Iraq on a permanent basis or withdraw them, and concluded that returning home was the proper course. His position reflects the administration’s view that the United States should no longer sustain a lasting military footprint in the country after the end of the anti-caliphate mission.

“I had a choice to stay or to leave, and felt without question that it was time for America to go home.”

The conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve does not erase the importance of Iraq in regional affairs, but it does change the nature of the American role there. Trump’s public support for al-Zaidi indicates that Washington sees Iraq’s new prime minister as central to managing the transition following the coalition withdrawal.

For Iraqi citizens, the end of the mission carries both symbolic and practical significance. It marks the departure of the final US forces after years of military involvement, while placing renewed focus on the country’s elected leadership. Trump described al-Zaidi as “outstanding” and said he hoped the prime minister would guide Iraq effectively through the period ahead.

With troops and coalition equipment leaving Erbil Air Base, the United States is closing its formal military operation in Iraq. Trump’s remarks presented the move as the end of a difficult era for America and the beginning of a new period in which Iraq’s government, led by Ali al-Zaidi, takes greater responsibility for the country’s future.