US President Donald Trump , in a joint media appearance at the White House after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , took a swipe at him, quipping that the Turkish leader “knows about rigged elections better than anybody.” The remark came as the two leaders met to revive strained US-Turkey ties and discuss key geopolitical issues, including the war in Gaza and Ankara’s stalled F-35 fighter jet purchase.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, actually, even for four years when I was in exile, unfairly, as it turns out, rigged election,” Trump said, seated beside Erdogan in the Oval Office. “You know, he knows about rigged elections better than anybody.”
Trump’s swipe comes against the backdrop of international criticism directed at Erdogan over democratic backsliding in Turkey. Over the years, Erdogan’s government has faced allegations of manipulating electoral processes, suppressing dissent, and jailing political opponents and journalists. These concerns led to strained ties with Western allies, including the United States.
The meeting marked Erdogan’s first visit to the White House since 2019, following years of frostiness under former President Joe Biden, who had kept Erdogan at arm’s length over Turkey’s domestic political crackdown and its close energy ties with Russia.
Trump, however, signalled a shift. “This is a tough man. This is a guy who’s highly opinionated. Usually, I don’t like opinionated people, but I always like this one,” he said of Erdogan.
F-35 deal resurfaces
High on Erdogan’s agenda was restoring Turkey’s access to the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme. Ankara was removed from the programme during Trump’s previous term after it acquired Russia’s S-400 missile system, raising concerns in Washington over possible leaks of sensitive military data to Moscow.
While Trump stopped short of confirming a decision, he indicated progress was likely, “I think you’ll be successful with buying the things you’d like to buy,” he told Erdogan, suggesting an update could come “by the end of the day,” as quoted by The Washington Post.
Earlier this week, Erdogan told Fox News, “I don’t think it’s very becoming of strategic partnership, and I don’t think it’s the right way to go,” referring to Turkey’s continued exclusion from the programme.
Also read: Donald Trump pivots to Pakistan in biggest US tilt since 1971
Gaza, Ukraine conflicts in focus
Trump also reiterated his intent to push for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza, revealing that he had recently met Middle Eastern leaders on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.
“We want to get Gaza over with,” Trump said. “I’m going to have to tell Israel, let’s go. We want to get the hostages back... Everybody wants to see that war over with.”
Erdogan, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, voiced support for Trump’s diplomatic push. “I believe in the peace efforts that President Trump is leading, and together we will be able to overcome the challenges in the region,” he said, as quoted by the Post.
Also read: 'Time to stop': Trump was asked if he'll allow Israel to annex the West Bank? What the US President said
Russia energy ties still a concern
One sticking point in the thaw of relations between two nations remains about Turkey’s continued energy imports from Russia. Trump acknowledged the issue publicly, saying, “the best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia. If he did that, that would be probably the best thing. He knows Putin like I know Putin.”
Despite differences, Trump described Erdogan as a “valuable ally” in balancing tensions in Ukraine and Syria, where both countries have overlapping strategic interests.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, actually, even for four years when I was in exile, unfairly, as it turns out, rigged election,” Trump said, seated beside Erdogan in the Oval Office. “You know, he knows about rigged elections better than anybody.”
Priceless: Trump humiliates Erdogan in his face by saying “Erdogan knows about rigged elections better than anybody else” 🤣pic.twitter.com/NZWLErmm2s
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) September 25, 2025
Trump’s swipe comes against the backdrop of international criticism directed at Erdogan over democratic backsliding in Turkey. Over the years, Erdogan’s government has faced allegations of manipulating electoral processes, suppressing dissent, and jailing political opponents and journalists. These concerns led to strained ties with Western allies, including the United States.
The meeting marked Erdogan’s first visit to the White House since 2019, following years of frostiness under former President Joe Biden, who had kept Erdogan at arm’s length over Turkey’s domestic political crackdown and its close energy ties with Russia.
Trump, however, signalled a shift. “This is a tough man. This is a guy who’s highly opinionated. Usually, I don’t like opinionated people, but I always like this one,” he said of Erdogan.
F-35 deal resurfaces
High on Erdogan’s agenda was restoring Turkey’s access to the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme. Ankara was removed from the programme during Trump’s previous term after it acquired Russia’s S-400 missile system, raising concerns in Washington over possible leaks of sensitive military data to Moscow.
While Trump stopped short of confirming a decision, he indicated progress was likely, “I think you’ll be successful with buying the things you’d like to buy,” he told Erdogan, suggesting an update could come “by the end of the day,” as quoted by The Washington Post.
Earlier this week, Erdogan told Fox News, “I don’t think it’s very becoming of strategic partnership, and I don’t think it’s the right way to go,” referring to Turkey’s continued exclusion from the programme.
Also read: Donald Trump pivots to Pakistan in biggest US tilt since 1971
Gaza, Ukraine conflicts in focus
Trump also reiterated his intent to push for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza, revealing that he had recently met Middle Eastern leaders on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.
“We want to get Gaza over with,” Trump said. “I’m going to have to tell Israel, let’s go. We want to get the hostages back... Everybody wants to see that war over with.”
Erdogan, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, voiced support for Trump’s diplomatic push. “I believe in the peace efforts that President Trump is leading, and together we will be able to overcome the challenges in the region,” he said, as quoted by the Post.
Also read: 'Time to stop': Trump was asked if he'll allow Israel to annex the West Bank? What the US President said
Russia energy ties still a concern
One sticking point in the thaw of relations between two nations remains about Turkey’s continued energy imports from Russia. Trump acknowledged the issue publicly, saying, “the best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia. If he did that, that would be probably the best thing. He knows Putin like I know Putin.”
Despite differences, Trump described Erdogan as a “valuable ally” in balancing tensions in Ukraine and Syria, where both countries have overlapping strategic interests.
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