Jul 8 2026

President Trump Holds a Bilateral Meeting with President Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey

Posted originally on CTH on July 7, 2026 | Sundance

President Trump and Turkish President Recep Erdogan hold a bilateral meeting in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of the beginning of the NATO summit. President Trump and President Erdogan exchanged pleasantries, appreciation and mutual respect in their introduction with the media. Video Prompted to 01:45

The first question to President Trump was about selling F-35’s to Turkey. President Trump notes the issue should not be controversial as Turkey is a NATO ally. People who are concerned about F-35 sales, should publicly explain why a NATO member should be denied an allied weapon.

President Trump also noted there is a chemistry of honesty between himself and President Erdogan. He said directly if the NATO summit were not being held in Ankara, there is a strong possibility President Trump would not have attended. This positions Erdogan with strong respect as expressed by President Trump.

Again, President Trump outlines the specifics of why the European members of NATO are no longer reliable allies. In a weird way this is the exact same long-term position of Turkey and explains the synergy between the two leaders on the issue.

Jul 8 2026

President Trump Arrives in Ankara, Turkey for NATO Summit – Brilliant Videos

Posted originally on CTH on July 7, 2026 | Sundance

You have to really understand the NATO relationship with Turkey, Recep Erdogan and, well, essentially the Muslim Brotherhood, to understand the dynamics at play.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan is a perfectly Turkish man of notoriously intemperate disposition.

Erdogan wears many masks; however, unlike many leaders he does so publicly. He will say whatever is needed to make the ‘West’ think they have upper hand, while doing exactly the opposite.

Erdogan will decry terrorism, take in Syrian refugees and simultaneously kill Kurds, and provide safe harbor for the worst elements of The Muslim Brotherhood (political Islam). No one sleeps in Erdogan’s camp without one eye open and a weapon under their pillow.

The ‘West’ hates his duplicity and leverage. The Russians don’t trust him an inch. The Arabs think he’s sketchy, and the Persians tolerate him. However, Erdogan is centered in the Gateway between the Middle East and Europe; even Turkey’s geography is critical.

There is only one guy in global politics who interacts with Recep Erdogan in a way that generates mutual respect; that guy is Donald Trump. The skillset that Trump carries is his lack of pretending, his brutal honesty in every interaction. Trump could be standing next to Erdogan at a presser, answer a question and say, “He’s a strong man, he’s probably lying, but that’s ok, I like him, it’s strong politics, you can’t be weak we will figure it out.”…. To wit Erdogan won’t flinch an inch but smile inside.

In a weird way, 99% of the viewing public will not understand the dynamic of this relationship, but it’s funny. If there was one global leader who would be disliked by NATO more than Erdogan, it’s probably Trump. The two non-pretending leaders -absolutely critical for everything- have a great deal of mutual respect for each other. There’s a reason why the notoriously insufferable NATO manipulator met President Trump at the airport, with an official greeting. WATCH: