President Donald Trump said of the potential F-35 sale to Turkey that 'she was loyal' and that he will need to decide, according to reports. The brief remark adds to the ongoing debate over restoring Turkey to the F-35 program.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday afternoon that Turkey "was loyal" regarding the F-35 program and that he must decide on the sale. The remark, reported in the Israeli press, comes after a day of back-and-forth signals from Ankara and Washington. Earlier Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US had promised Turkey five F-35 fighter jets and that Trump had given his word. Trump's latest comment, while not confirming a promise, marks a shift from his earlier statement that he had "no concern" about Turkey acquiring the jets.
The Zioneer tracked the development throughout Tuesday. At 08:36 Jerusalem, Erdogan first claimed the US had promised five aircraft, without specifying the type (v21). Minutes later, he specified the F-35 (v20, v24). By 08:36, Trump was reported to have said he had "no concern" (v19) and that the US would consider selling (v18). The thread shows that by version 27, Erdogan linked the promise to compliments from Trump. The new statement from Trump himself, at 16:17, appears to be the first direct comment from the president on the matter since the morning's exchanges.
The potential sale has been a contentious issue for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on June 25, Trump indicated he would likely approve the sale, and Vice President Vance ordered a legal review. Israeli officials have opposed the move, with Ambassador Leiter stating Israel's opposition on July 6. Security officials pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu to intervene urgently, as The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday.
Trump's comment does not specify a timeline or decision. It remains unclear whether the sale will proceed, and whether congressional approval or legal hurdles will factor in. The claim of a promise by Erdogan has not been confirmed by the US side.
24 developments
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
- StrongTrump says he will consider selling F-35s to Turkey
- StrongIsrael's diplomatic campaign to block F-35 sale to Turkey intensifies
- DevelopingSegal: Turkey has not earned trust — F-35 sale to Erdogan endangers Israel's security
Source and signal
- Internal intake