What does the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W Bush's head say now? Find out in this week's DC Insider newsletter

By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-12 23:39:07 | Updated at 2026-08-13 00:36:34 1 hour ago

By NICK ALLEN, US NEWS EDITOR (POLITICS)

Published: 23:43 BST, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 00:35 BST, 13 August 2026

In 2008, President George W Bush made a surprise visit to Baghdad and held a press conference.

Suddenly, an Iraqi journalist stood up and flung his shoes at the president's head, yelling: 'This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!'

President Bush showed some lightning-quick reactions, ducking and avoiding being hit.

The incident reverberated across the world, setting off copycat protests from India to Cambridge University.

But what happened to Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the journalist turned shoe-thrower?

We spoke to him 18 years on to see what he thinks about it now, and whether he would do it again.

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Muntadhar al-Zaidi, then a 29-year-old journalist for Al-Baghdadia TV, throws his shoe at President George W Bush

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