President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday evening that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'doesn't like Israel' and could have joined the war on Iran's side, but said he asked Erdogan not to intervene and that the Turkish leader listened, according to a report by Channel 12. The remark adds a new dimension to Trump's characterization of his relationship with Erdogan, framing Turkish neutrality in the Iran conflict as a personal favor to Trump rather than a strategic choice.
President Donald Trump, in remarks circulated Wednesday evening and reported by Channel 12, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'doesn't like Israel' and could have joined the war alongside Iran, but Trump claimed he prevented that by asking Erdogan not to intervene — and Erdogan 'listened to me.' The statement adds a sharper edge to Trump's earlier warm characterizations of his relationship with Erdogan. As The Zioneer reported previously (Wednesday 23:36), Trump earlier Wednesday told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that he loves Erdogan and that the Turkish leader does everything he asks. The new remark reframes Turkish neutrality in the Iran conflict not as a strategic calculation but as a personal concession to Trump. Trump did not elaborate on whether Erdogan's stated dislike of Israel was relayed directly to him or inferred. The administration has not officially commented; the remark remains a single-source report from an Israeli media outlet.
4 developments
- DevelopingTrump says he loves Erdogan, praises Turkish leader for staying out of Iran war
- DevelopingTrump says he will speak with Turkey, calls Erdogan 'great'
- DevelopingTrump signals he will 'do something that makes Erdogan very happy' on arms sales to Turkey
- DevelopingTrump says he would call Erdoğan if he heard anti-Semitic remarks, calls him a 'friend'
Source and signal
- Internal intake