President Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan this Thursday in a high-stakes White House meeting that could reshape trade and military ties.
Breitbart reported that this state visit, spotlighted by Trump on Truth Social last Friday, will dive into major deals involving Boeing aircraft purchases, F-16 agreements, and the ever-thorny F-35 negotiations.
Let’s rewind a bit—Trump and Erdoğan have history, with the Turkish leader visiting the White House twice during Trump’s first term, back in May 2017 and November 2019.
Their rapport seems to hold strong, which could be a game-changer for the discussions ahead. After all, personal chemistry often greases the wheels of diplomacy, even if the road is bumpy.
Fast forward to this year, and the stakes are sky-high with talks of a “large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft” and a significant F-16 deal on the table.
Trump himself touted these prospects, saying, “We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President.” Sounds promising, but let’s not pop the champagne yet—big promises don’t always mean big results when bureaucrats get involved.
Then there’s the F-35 saga, a headache that’s been dragging on since Turkey was booted from NATO’s program in 2019 over its purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
That move raised eyebrows—and hackles—across the alliance, with fears that sensitive U.S. tech could fall into Moscow’s hands. It’s a classic case of geopolitical chess, and Turkey’s still holding a $1.3 to $1.4 billion payment for jets they can’t touch.
Erdoğan hasn’t let this go quietly, noting, “We discussed the F-35 issue.” He’s banking on Trump’s goodwill to resolve this mess, even calling him a “friend.” While friendship is nice, it’s hard to ignore that hard cash sitting in limbo while progressive foreign policy hawks clutch their pearls over national security.
Back in June 2025, the two leaders hashed out the F-35 issue at a NATO Summit in the Netherlands, but don’t expect a quick fix.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) isn’t budging, declaring, “I’ve got a hold on” those six completed jets for Turkey. His stance reflects a broader conservative skepticism about trusting allies who cozy up to adversaries like Russia.
Risch’s position isn’t a solo act—40 lawmakers echoed similar concerns in August 2025, penning a letter to the administration warning against Turkey’s return to the F-35 fold.
They argued the S-400 system “poses a direct threat” to U.S. aircraft tech. It’s a fair point; why hand over cutting-edge jets if they might become a backdoor for Russian intel?
Erdoğan, meanwhile, remains optimistic about Trump’s intentions on the jet delivery. He’s hinted that the president is “well-intentioned” on the matter. But goodwill only goes so far when Congress holds the purse strings and the veto power.
This isn’t just about hardware—it’s about alliances in a world where loyalties shift faster than social media trends. Turkey’s a NATO member, yet its dalliance with Russian tech has conservatives rightly questioning where its priorities lie. We’re not here to play woke games of moral superiority, but strategic clarity matters.
Trump’s approach seems to lean on personal rapport, a tactic that’s worked for him before with tough customers. He’s publicly called his relationship with Erdoğan “very good” and is eager to host him on the 25th. That optimism might charm some, but skeptics will want concrete safeguards before celebrating.
The Boeing and F-16 deals could be the sweetener in this diplomatic stew, offering economic wins for American workers while keeping Turkey in the fold.
But let’s not pretend this is charity—these are business transactions, not handouts, and they need to benefit U.S. interests first. Anything less is just bad negotiating, and that’s not Trump’s style.
Critics of Turkey’s readmission to the F-35 program aren’t wrong to wave red flags, especially given the S-400 risks. National security isn’t a bargaining chip, no matter how much we value NATO unity or dislike progressive overreach in foreign policy. It’s about protecting American tech and lives, plain and simple.
As Thursday’s meeting looms, all eyes are on whether Trump can thread the needle—securing trade wins while addressing military concerns. Erdoğan’s visit is a chance to reset some of these tensions, but only if both sides play their cards right.