NEW YORK (VINnews) — U.S. President Donald Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday evening and even linked him to the conflict with Iran and his stance toward Israel.

During a meeting at the White House with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte, Trump said that Erdoğan “was a natural candidate to enter the war with Iran, perhaps on Iran’s side, because he is not a big admirer of Israel, as you know.” Describing their relationship, Trump added: “I like him. He’s a friend of mine.”

According to Trump, he asked Erdoğan to stay out of the conflict with Iran, and the Turkish president agreed. “I asked him to stay out of it, and he stayed out of it.”

Trump continued: “He is a great leader, a very strong man, with a large military. He loves Turkey, and he’s doing an excellent job.”

Trump also addressed the possibility of renewing defense deals with Ankara, including the issue of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, whose sale to Turkey was previously suspended after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system.

When asked whether he would go to Turkey “with a big gift bag for Erdoğan,” Trump replied: “I think so.” He said Turkey is “a strong member of NATO” and that he would “probably do something that will make him very happy.”

Vice President J. D. Vance clarified that the matter is still undergoing legal and policy review: “There are certain things we need to verify happened in order to comply with U.S. law. It’s really a matter for Congress to determine whether Turkey has met the requirements of U.S. law to receive the F-35.”

Regarding negotiations with Iran, Trump stressed that he would not accept any arrangement imposing fees or tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or other international waterways.

“That would be unacceptable to me. If you do it there, you’ll have to do it in other straits as well. It would be a game changer.”

At the same time, Trump criticized a congressional vote aimed at limiting further military action against Iran. He called the vote “meaningless” and argued that it undermined America’s negotiating position with Tehran.

“We’re doing very well in negotiations with Iran. Then, in the middle of one of the key issues, which we’re going to get anyway, the Senate votes that it wants Trump to stop the war. Iran sees that and says: what does that mean?”

Trump noted that four Republican senators joined all Democrats in supporting the measure and added: “The Democrats want to lose the war because they’re stupid.”

Later, Trump commented on the Democratic primary elections in New York, where progressive candidates backed by Zohran Mamdani achieved victories. Trump said Democrats are “moving extremely far to the left” and added:”They’re really communists.” He added: “When you pass Dan Goldman on the left, you’ve entered never-never land.”

Trump also renewed his criticism of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying he had “lost his way” and had “effectively become a Palestinian.”

“This is the greatest transformation of a political position I’ve ever seen. Chuck Schumer, who used to be a strong supporter of Israel, has become 100% Palestinian.”

Trump added that he had considered sending Schumer “a beautiful traditional Palestinian silk outfit” as a birthday gift. “Chuck Schumer is Jewish and used to be a strong supporter of Israel. He’s Palestinian now. It’s sad.”