Trump Hosts Erdogan at the White House
On September 25, 2025, President Donald Trump welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for discussions centered around trade and military concerns.
This marked Erdogan’s first visit to the White House in approximately six years. During their meeting, Trump suggested that if Turkey halted its imports of Russian oil, the United States might consider lifting sanctions and allowing Turkey to acquire F-35 jets.
“He needs something specific, we need something specific, we will come to a conclusion. You will know by the end of the day,” Trump remarked regarding Erdogan’s needs. He emphasized that avoiding oil and gas purchases from Russia would be the best action for Erdogan.
Previously, Turkey had been removed from the F-35 fighter program due to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system during Trump’s first term.
Relations between Turkey and the U.S. have been strained, partly due to Turkey’s connections with Russia and ongoing tensions with Israel, complicating their diplomatic ties.
Since the European Union’s oil boycott in 2023, Turkey has become one of the leading purchasers of Russian oil, with expenditures exceeding $90 billion on Russian energy resources this year, trailing behind only China and India.
Turkey is regarded as a strategic ally for the U.S. owing to its relationships with both Russia and Ukraine, potentially allowing it to influence President Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Prior to their discussions, Erdogan stated that he hoped to effectively negotiate the removal of the U.S. ban on F-35 purchases for Turkey.
Erdogan also voiced his criticisms regarding the F-35 ban, saying, “I don’t think it’s going to be a strategic partnership,” according to reports.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump praised Erdogan for his acceptance of Syria’s new president, Ahmed Arshara, highlighting it as a significant move away from the previous regime.
Turkey has historically supported rebel groups in Syria amid the upheaval following former President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
However, tensions with Israel persist. Erdogan has called Israeli actions in Gaza “complete genocide,” complicating relations with the U.S.
While Trump and Erdogan sidestepped discussions on Gaza during the public segment of their meeting, no formal actions regarding sanctions or the F-35 ban were announced.
This meeting was part of Trump’s broader efforts leading up to multiple conferences on the Gaza conflict at the UN General Assembly with leaders from Arab and Muslim nations.
