US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he did not expect a conflict between Israel and Turkey while he is in office, citing his personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“I don’t think that will happen with Turkey, not as long as I’m president because he respects me and I respect him,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump was responding to a reporter who said Erdoğan had been threatening Israel and asked whether there was a chance of conflict between Israel and Turkey.
The reporter also asked whether Trump would sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, but Trump did not answer that part of the question.
“As you know, he’s a very good friend of mine, and we’ve worked very well together,” Trump said of Erdoğan.
Reporter: Do you think there is a chance for conflict between Israel and Turkey?
President Trump: I like Erdogan a lot. He is a strong person… I don't think that will happen with Turkey, not as long as I am president, because Erdogan respects me and I respect him. pic.twitter.com/qdwJAqbl73
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 10, 2026
“I like him a lot. I’m not supposed to say that because the press will say, oh, he likes Erdoğan. No, he’s a hell of a leader and a strong person, very strong person,” he said.
Trump said he had not heard the latest remarks from Erdoğan but would call him if needed.
“If I did, I’d call him, and I think I’d make sure that things were fine,” Trump said.
The comments came after Erdoğan said Israel’s attacks on Syria and Lebanon had reached a point where they also threatened Turkey.
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday, Erdoğan said Turkey’s security was tied to stability in Syria and Lebanon.
“The attacks by Netanyahu and his network of murder on Lebanon and Syria have brought the issue to a point where it also threatens Turkey,” Erdoğan said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Erdoğan also warned that Turkey would respond if the rights of Turkey or Turkish Cypriots were targeted in the eastern Mediterranean.
Netanyahu responded by calling Erdoğan an “antisemitic dictator” and accusing him of supporting Hamas, imprisoning political opponents and committing genocide of the Kurds.