Trump Claims He Prevented Erdogan From Joining Conflict With Iran, Hints at F-35 Jets for Turkey
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he prevented Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from joining the conflict with Iran.
- Trump stated Erdogan, who is critical of Israel, was a potential ally for Iran in the conflict.
- The U.S. President also hinted at providing Turkey with F-35 fighter jets, despite previous sanctions related to Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 systems.
President Donald Trump asserted that he personally dissuaded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from entering the fray in a potential conflict between the United States and Iran. Trump suggested Erdogan, known for his strong criticism of Israel, might have aligned with Iran.
He is a major candidate to fight with Iran, possibly on the side of Iran, because he is not a fan of Israel. I asked him to stay away. He stayed away.
"He is a major candidate to fight with Iran, possibly on the side of Iran, because he is not a fan of Israel," Trump told reporters at the White House on June 24, 2026. He added, "I asked him to stay away. He stayed away." Trump praised Erdogan as a "great leader" and a "strong guy," claiming that Erdogan followed his requests.
Erdogan and other Turkish officials have recently intensified their rhetoric against Israel. Turkey's interior minister called for the "liberation" of Jerusalem, and Erdogan himself stated that Israel's "aggression" threatened the world and must be stopped, linking Israeli actions in Lebanon and Syria to threats against Turkey.
Erdogan is a great leader, he is a strong guy... Whatever I ask him, he does.
Separately, when asked about providing Turkey with F-35 fighter jets, a weapon system Turkey desires, Trump responded, "I think so. Listen... I might do something that will make him happy." U.S. Vice President JD Vance indicated that while there are legal considerations and congressional involvement, the administration is working to fulfill Turkey's request for the F-35s. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which U.S. law prohibits operating alongside NATO-compatible equipment.
I might do something that will make him happy.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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