Trump says he will "always make" Erdogan happy when asked about delayed CAATSA sanctions relief
Asked on Friday what was holding up removal of CAATSA sanctions on Turkey, Trump called Erdogan a friend and said he would always make him happy. A Jerusalem Post opinion piece two days later criticised the friendship, citing Turkey's hosting of Hamas.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1US President Donald Trump said on Friday 2 October that he would "always make" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan happy, when asked what was holding up the removal of US sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Anadolu AgencyN “US President Donald Trump said Friday he would “always make” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan happy” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Trump's words, as reported by Anadolu Agency, were: "I'll always speak to President Erdogan. He is a friend of mine, as you know. And I'll always make him happy." Anadolu AgencyN ““I’ll always speak to President Erdogan. He is a friend of mine, as you know. And I’ll always make him happy,” Trump said” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu reports that at a meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey in July, Trump said he wanted to lift the CAATSA sanctions and would "certainly" consider letting Ankara buy F-35 fighter jets. Anadolu AgencyN “he wanted to lift the CAATSA sanctions and would “certainly” consider allowing Ankara to purchase F-35 fighter jets” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1The US removed Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 after it acquired the Russian S-400 air defence system, which Washington said was a security risk to the F-35 and incompatible with NATO systems. Anadolu AgencyN “The US removed Türkiye from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1In December 2020 the US imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey's defence industry and several senior officials over the S-400 purchase, including restrictions on US export licences and financing. Anadolu AgencyN “In December 2020, the US imposed CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye’s defense industry and several senior officials over the S-400 purchase.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Turkey says it bought the Russian system to meet urgent air defence needs after being denied US Patriot missiles, and it has repeatedly rejected Washington's concerns; it continues to seek removal of the sanctions and a return to the F-35 programme. Anadolu AgencyN “Ankara seeking the removal of the sanctions and its return to the F-35 program.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Right · 1In a Jerusalem Post opinion piece on 4 October, Cookie Schwaeber-Issan, a former Jerusalem school principal, questioned why Trump calls Erdogan a friend, a "fantastic guy" and a strong leader while Turkey hosts Hamas. The Jerusalem PostRC “So why does he call their host a friend, praising him as a strong leader whom he respects and a “fantastic guy?”” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The author cites Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN General Assembly claim that Turkey hosts Hamas terror chiefs and finances anti-Israel information, and accuses Erdogan of authoritarianism, jailing journalists and opponents, corruption and alignment with Russia, Qatar, Venezuela and Iran; these are the writer's assertions and are not addressed in Anadolu's report. The Jerusalem PostRC “Turkey is one of several nations, financing information against Israel and spreading antisemitism, while hosting Hamas terror chiefs”“Those include Russia, Qatar, Venezuela, and Iran.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1She offers possible explanations for Trump's warmth, including flattery, a wish to be seen as a peacemaker and Turkey's NATO role as holder of the alliance's second-largest military, and urges him to distance himself from Erdogan. The Jerusalem PostRC “Turkey maintains the second-largest military in all of NATO.”“he should distance himself from anyone who would represent a barbaric terror organization as liberators” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A straight news report of Trump's remarks on the delayed sanctions removal, with background on the S-400 purchase, the F-35 exclusion and the 2020 sanctions, including Turkey's rationale.
- Emphasis
- Trump's friendly words, his July pledge and the history of the dispute, including Turkey's stated reasons.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention criticism of Erdogan or Turkey's hosting of Hamas, and does not say why the sanctions have not been lifted.
- For example
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“Türkiye says it purchased the Russian system to meet urgent air defense needs after being denied US-made Patriot missiles” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- An opinion piece that treats Trump's praise of Erdogan as puzzling and dangerous, centring on Turkey's hosting of Hamas and Erdogan's record.
- Emphasis
- Hamas, Netanyahu's UN claims, Erdogan's alleged authoritarianism and corruption, and Turkey's ties to Russia, Qatar, Venezuela and Iran.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention CAATSA sanctions, the S-400 dispute or the F-35 question, and does not give Turkey's side.
- Charged language
- “authoritarian despot”“loose cannon”“kleptocracy”“barbaric terror organization”
- For example
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“Erdogan is an authoritarian despot who has been accused of forcibly seizing power in his own country by rigging elections in his favor” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Trump called Erdogan a friend.
- Trump is linked to a pledge to consider lifting CAATSA sanctions on Turkey.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Trump's friendship with Erdogan is justified
- Centre
- Anadolu reports Trump's remarks and the sanctions background without judging the relationship.
- Right
- The Jerusalem Post opinion piece calls Erdogan an authoritarian despot and argues Trump should not call him a friend.
Donald Trump person
Presents Erdogan as a friend he will keep speaking to and keep happy; earlier said he wanted to lift CAATSA sanctions and would consider F-35 sales.
“He is a friend of mine, as you know. And I’ll always make him happy,”” — Anadolu Agency
Recep Tayyip Erdogan person
Turkey, which Erdogan leads, says it bought the S-400 out of urgent air defence needs after being denied Patriots and seeks removal of the sanctions and a return to the F-35 programme; the Jerusalem Post column says Erdogan flatters Trump.
“Ankara seeking the removal of the sanctions and its return to the F-35 program.” — Anadolu Agency
“the flattery that he’s received from the Turkish leader” — The Jerusalem Post
CAATSA law
The 2020 sanctions on Turkey's defence industry and officials over the S-400 purchase remain in place, with Trump saying he wants them lifted.
“The measures included restrictions on US export licenses and financing.” — Anadolu Agency
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Trump praises Turkish President Erdogan when pressed on delay in lifting sanctions on Ankara
Neutral Reports Trump's remark and sanctions background, including Turkey's stated reasons for buying the S-400.
Right1 article
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The Jerusalem PostRC · · Opinion
Trump’s friendship with Erdogan ignores Turkey’s hosting of Hamas - opinion
Critical Opinion arguing Trump's friendship with Erdogan overlooks Turkey's hosting of Hamas and Erdogan's record.
- 2 Oct 21:47 First Anadolu AgencyN Trump praises Turkish President Erdogan when pressed on delay in lifting sanctions on Ankara
- 4 Oct 08:56 +35h 8m The Jerusalem PostRC Trump’s friendship with Erdogan ignores Turkey’s hosting of Hamas - opinion Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.