Official Meeting of Erdoğan and Trump at the White House
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan entered the White House with an official welcome by President of the United States Donald Trump. After the welcoming ceremony in the White House garden, the two leaders proceeded to the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, Trump described hosting Erdoğan as “a great honor” and called him “a very respected person” who is held in esteem in Turkey, Europe, and across the world. Referring to his long-standing friendship with Erdoğan, he also described him as “a respected leader.”
Trump further emphasized the commercial cooperation between the two countries, stating: “We have extensive economic relations with Turkey. Turkey produces extraordinary products. We buy a lot of goods from them, and they also buy from us.” He went on to mention recent discussions on Gaza and Syria, stressing that Erdoğan has played “a very important role” in these matters.
In the joint press conference, Erdoğan expressed hope that, through cooperation with his American counterpart, regional issues could be resolved. He announced that in his meeting with Trump, they would discuss in detail the F-35 project, the purchase of F-16 fighter jets, the Halkbank case, and bilateral relations.
The President of Turkey, pointing to his close ties with Trump, added: “I believe that by working together we can overcome the problems of the region.” He also addressed issues related to Orthodox Christians and the Halki Seminary, noting that upon his return to Turkey he would consult with Patriarch Bartholomew on the matter.
The meeting lasted a total of two hours and twenty minutes. At the end, Trump escorted Erdoğan to the exit of the White House and described the encounter to reporters as “a great meeting.”
