President Donald Trump announced the end of a 23-year military presence in Iraq which began in March of 2023 under former president George W. Bush and last nearly 8,600 days. Trump credited the newest Prime Minister of the country with having the necessary command of the caliphate-free region to no longer require the U.S. military. In total, approximately 4,600 American troops lost their lives in Iraq during the occupation that lasted longer than two decades, most of which occurred between 2003 and 2011.
“Today, I am pleased to announce, that the last American Forces are leaving Iraq! 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. 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. He won an Election that he was not expected to win, and did so, in a landslide!” Trump posted on September 30th, 2026 on his Truth Social.
“Launched in 2003 under the presidency of George W. Bush, and continued under the Administration of Barack Hussein Obama in 2014, and Sleepy Joe Biden, Operation Inherent Resolve ends in 2026 under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. This Day is a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS, which has been completely decimated by the Trump Administration, First Term, along with other very bad and dangerous players,” he continued.
“Unlike Afghanistan, where much Military Equipment and everything else was left behind, and 13 Warriors lie dead, with many badly wounded, this orderly departure of Coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base marks the end of a very expensive excursion into Hell. I set a clear mission, gave our Commanders the tools to finish it, and refused to let a temporary presence become a permanent one. I had a choice to stay or to leave, and felt, without question, that it was time for America to go home! Prime Minister al-Zaidi, is outstanding, and 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!” he finished.
Reacting to the news was former Marine JD Vance, now the Vice President of the United States. Writing a day later on X, he said he was proud to be a Marine Corps veteran and thanked President Trump for following through on a promise to remove ISIS from the area.
“I am proud to be a veteran of our great United States Marine Corps, and my time in Iraq shaped me into the man I am today. President Trump’s announcement yesterday concludes 23 years of American Forces being in Iraq, which is not only personal for me, but for the millions of our brave servicemen and women who have served and continue to serve our great country faithfully,” he said with a screenshot of Trump’s original post.
“Thank you Mr. President for fulfilling your promise and for completely eradicating the ISIS caliphate from the face of the Earth. As @POTUS has said, Operation Inherent Resolve is officially over, and this is a victory for both the United States and Iraq. God bless our great nation and our warfighters who protect it. Semper Fidelis!”