Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was rankled by President Trump’s comments that the U.S. should have taken Iraq’s oil after throwing out Saddam Hussein.
“There is no right for any foreign country to take over the wealth of another country,” al-Abadi said on Fox News Sunday.
Trump said at CIA headquarters shortly after taking office that the U.S. “might have another chance” at getting Iraq’s oil supply after the U.S. didn’t get it after toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Al-Abadi said that the comments upset “every Iraqi.”
He added that Trump’s travel ban, which initially included Iraq among six other countries where terrorists are prevalent, was very tough to swallow, considering that some Iraqis have worked with the U.S. military to fight terrorism.
“It was very tough to tell the Iraqis I am working with you but I think you are a threat to the U.S.” he said.
The initial temporary ban, which was struck down by a federal appeals court, was scrapped. A new ban took Iraq off the list of countries affected and is being challenged in the courts as well.
