President Trump responded to a journalist's question about Prime Minister Netanyahu's opposition to the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, saying 'no one tells me what we should sell or not sell' and describing Turkey as an 'excellent ally,' according to Israeli media reports. The remarks reinforce the White House's rejection of Israeli influence on the decision and follow an earlier report Monday in which Trump dismissed the opposition and called Erdogan 'my friend.'
President Trump's latest remarks, reported Monday evening, directly address Prime Minister Netanyahu's opposition to the sale of F-35 stealth fighters to Turkey. In response to a journalist's question, Trump stated: 'No one tells me what we should sell or not sell. Turkey was an excellent ally.' The statement reinforces the administration's position that the decision rests solely with Washington, adding a new layer of praise for Ankara.
Earlier Monday evening, at 19:39 Jerusalem, Israeli media reported Trump saying 'no one will tell me whether to sell planes or not' and describing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as 'my friend.' Those reports were attributed to multiple Israeli journalists, including Barak Ravid (N12) and Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). The new quote, from a subsequent exchange, adds specific praise for Turkey as an 'excellent ally' — a notable escalation from the earlier dismissal.
The potential sale has been under review for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on June 25, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that President Trump had ordered a legal review of Turkey's eligibility to return to the F-35 program, following its 2019 purchase of the Russian S-400 system. Since then, Trump has signaled a tendency to approve the sale, citing Erdogan's assistance — as reported by The Zioneer on July 8. This marks a sharp reversal from Trump's earlier stance, reported on July 7, in which he warned that placing F-35s in Turkey's hands would destroy the Middle East's balance of power. The Israeli government has opposed the sale on security grounds, arguing that it could shift the regional balance of power.
No final decision has been announced. The legal review remains ongoing, and the White House has not formally committed to the sale. Trump's latest remarks, however, indicate a strong personal inclination to approve the deal, despite Israeli objections.
8 developments
- DevelopingTrump leans toward approving F-35 sale to Turkey, praises Erdogan's help
- StrongTrump says he will likely approve F-35 and engine sale to Turkey
- DevelopingTurkish FM Fidan criticizes US arms-sale denial to Ankara as 'unjustified'
- StrongTrump says he would not sell F-35s to Turkey, warns of regional imbalance
Source and signal
- Open-source intake