Trump, Barrack Sold Kurds, Kurds No Longer Trust Trump

I know where the weapons are

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated by iKurd.net from Kurdish Awene

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, strongly attacked the Kurds and said they have been “disappointed,” and that the weapons sent to them to be delivered to Iranian protesters have been kept by them instead.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, spoke at the White House about sending weapons to Iranian protesters.

He said Iranian people want to go out into the streets, but they have no weapons. He believed the Kurds would provide them with weapons, but added: “They disappointed us. The Kurds only take, take, and take.”

Trump also criticized the sympathy and trust that exists in the U.S. Congress toward the Kurds. He said the Kurds have a very strong reputation there, and that people in Congress say they fight very strongly. However, he argued: “No, they only fight well when they are paid well. That is why I am very disappointed in the Kurds.”

The above reflects the U.S. President’s remarks about the Kurds, the war in Iran, and the current situation. However, President Trump should honestly understand the truth: why are the Kurds not cooperating with you?

For forty years, the Kurds and the United States have been building trust and a strong relationship. They have taken many important steps together and achieved rare and significant successes. Together, they have passed through extremely difficult situations and shared struggles, change, and challenges.

However, after you began your second term as president, you appointed Tom Barrack, who is of Arab origin, as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and your representative in Syria.

That is when the Turks “hacked” Tom Barrack. With his involvement and what is described as his betrayal, the Western Kurdistan entity collapsed. Everything that had been built over forty years was destroyed. That is why the Kurds took a very serious and significant position after the collapse of the Western entity.

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani — Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, August 13, 2025. Photo: AP

Do you know, President Trump, that the late Ali Larijani, Iran’s top official after the Supreme Leader, said in a press interview that the Kurds do not cooperate with the United States and do not attack the Iranian regime because the U.S. betrayed and “sold” them in Syria.

For that reason, the Kurds in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey are not fighting Iran on behalf of the United States.

If you had watched Larijani’s interview, Mr. President, you would not have spoken about disappointment in the Kurds or lost hope in them. Instead, you should call your representative and ask why he damaged the image and reality of the United States in the Middle East and Kurdistan.

Tom Barrack, Trump’s envoy for Syria and Iraqi affairs, 2025. Photo: AFP

I am telling you clearly: the Kurds in Iran are not afraid. They are afraid of betrayal after the fall of a regime, like what was done in Aleppo and in eastern Euphrates. The Kurds are not afraid of Iranian missiles or drones; they are afraid of the “dagger of betrayal” from Tom Barrack.

Now do not ask the Kurds for hope or weapons, because the weapons are with Tom Barrack and are entirely in his possession. Ask him and call him to find out what he did with those weapons. If it turns out that Tom Barrack is not aware of the weapons, then the situation is even worse, because what kind of U.S. representative in this region is unaware of the arrival and location of U.S. weapons?

President Trump, Tom Barrack has damaged the real strategy and position of the United States in the Middle East. How it can be corrected is up to you and your administration. We do not know.

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb, a writer from Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan.

This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in Awene Newspaper on May 11, 2026.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.