Speaking at the conclusion of the NATO summit on Wednesday, July 8, former U.S. President Donald Trump praised Turkey’s leadership and reaffirmed strong bilateral ties. ‘Our relationship with Turkey is unshakeable. Turkey is a very powerful country. I have not yet decided on the F-35s,’ he said, referring to the long-stalled sale of advanced U.S. fighter jets to Ankara.
Trump commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying: ‘President Erdoğan stood firmly with us. He helped us regain the respect we had lost — because our country had become a laughingstock.’
He also highlighted U.S. defense capabilities, stating that America possesses ‘some of the most advanced drones in the world’ and has announced new specialized systems and cutting-edge weapons platforms. He noted ongoing defense cooperation with Poland, adding that such agreements bolster the American industrial base.
Calling the NATO summit ‘extremely successful,’ Trump credited both Erdoğan and all attending government leaders, emphasizing the presence of media and what he described as an atmosphere of ‘great love’ among participants.
On Iran, Trump declared the U.S. approach a ‘huge success,’ citing the prevention of Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. He claimed Iran lacks a real military — no army, navy, or air force — and pointed to its 60% inflation rate. ‘They want to strike a deal but don’t know how — and instead prefer bombing ships,’ he asserted.
Trump also made controversial remarks about Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling him ‘the bully of the Middle East’ and claiming, ‘What we did in Iran should have been done 47 years ago.’ He added, ‘I’ve been Target Number One for 47 years,’ describing the U.S. presidency as a dangerous profession — especially for someone ‘very successful,’ noting he remains on ‘a list of potential assassins.’
Regarding escalation, Trump said a renewed conflict with Iran would end ‘very quickly.’ When asked whether he would strike Iran immediately, he replied, ‘Yes.’ He added: ‘Right now, we’re speaking their language. Oil will flow. Don’t expect oil disruptions anymore.’