President Donald J. Trump has proudly announced the withdrawal of the last American forces from Iraq, signaling the end of over two decades of U.S. military presence in the region. This marks a monumental day for both the United States and Iraq, celebrating what the president described as a 'decisive victory over ISIS.' In a triumphant statement, President Trump highlighted the complete decimation of ISIS under his administration, a core objective of the U.S. intervention.
Decades of Conflict Concluded
President Trump addressed the nation, reflecting on the long-standing military involvement in Iraq, which he described as a 'quagmire' resulting from 'very bad decision making' by previous administrations. He recalled the initial invasion in 2003 under President George W. Bush and the continuation of operations through the presidencies of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. "Operation Inherent Resolve, which is what they called it, in 2026, under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, we get the hell out of there," he stated.
New Leadership in Iraq
The withdrawal coincides with an optimistic transition within Iraq, as President Trump praised the new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, a "fantastic guy" whom he supported and endorsed. Trump's early support was cited as pivotal in Prime Minister al-Zaidi's unexpected landslide election victory, which Trump celebrated as a personal win, too.
Comparisons to Afghanistan
Trump contrasted the orderly withdrawal from Iraq with the chaotic exit from Afghanistan, underlining that unlike Afghanistan, where "much military equipment and everything else was left behind," every piece of equipment was retrieved from Iraq. He emphasized the importance of avoiding a 'permanent presence,' noting, "I had a choice to stay or to leave and felt without question that it was time for America to go home."
This withdrawal from Iraq represents the conclusion of an 'expensive excursion into hell,' signaling a strategic retreat but also a reinforcement of success against the once formidable ISIS caliphate, now dismantled under the commanding force of the Trump administration. With confidence in Iraq's new leadership, President Trump concluded, "We came to fight a caliphate and there is no longer a caliphate. So we are going home indeed."
