Alongside Erdogan, Trump says ‘we will consider’ selling F-35s to Turkey; praises host for not fighting with Iran against Israel

US President Donald Trump says he will make a decision on a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, as he begins a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit in Ankara.

“It’s a decision we’re going to make,” Trump says, adding that the leaders will also discuss trade and the military.

“It’s certainly something we would consider,” he adds of the sale, noting that “we have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview yesterday that Israel is opposed to such a sale, and he reportedly urged Trump against the move during a recent conversation.

Reporter: Mr. President, are you going to sell F-35s to Türkiye, and what about the legal restrictions?

Trump: We're going to make a decision. I would think that many people — I can tell, many people sitting right here — would say, why wouldn't we do that?

We have a better… pic.twitter.com/VkFnKWorxk

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 7, 2026

Trump also praises Turkey for not “getting into the fight” — on the side of Iran, in the recent war — given Turkey’s acrimonious “relationship with Israel.”

The F-35, built with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy detection, is considered the world’s most advanced fighter jet.

Israel has operated the aircraft for over a decade, building multiple squadrons, and remains the only Middle Eastern country to possess it.

The Israel Air Force currently operates 48 of the aircraft with another 52 units on order.

Israel is anxious to preserve its qualitative military edge in the region by having the most advanced aircraft, and has previously worked to prevent the sale of the F-35 to other nearby countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.