U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the White House next Thursday, Sept. 25, adding that the two leaders expect to seal trade and defense deals—including a large Boeing order, a “major F-16” package, and the “continuation of F-35 talks” he expects to conclude “positively.” The visit will mark Erdoğan’s first bilateral trip to the White House since 2019.
Trump’s plan to host Erdoğan—and the renewed F-35 discussions—came just a day after Bahçeli urged a Turkey–Russia–China axis. This is classic of Bahçeli: he brandishes a hard-line, seemingly anti-Western, anti-democratic, even anti-Kurdish stance to needle opponents and raise the stakes, while in practice creating leverage for Ankara at the negotiating table.
The optics of a reset on fighter-jet ties are significant. In 2019, Washington removed NATO ally Turkey from the F-35 program after Ankara bought Russia’s S-400 air-defense system; U.S. officials said operating both systems risked exposing allied aircraft to Russian intelligence. Since then, Ankara has pursued a major F-16 purchase and upgrade path, with U.S. approvals advancing in 2024 after Turkey approved Sweden’s NATO accession. Trump’s post suggests he is open to re-opening F-35 discussions as well.
On Sept. 18, 2025, Turkey’s Defense Ministry reiterated the S-400s remain in inventory and that its position has not changed, after reports Moscow sought a “buy-back.”
Alleged Trump Jr.–Erdoğan contact, no official confirmation
The timing also follows an opposition claim in Turkey that Donald Trump Jr. met Erdoğan in Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe office “last Saturday.” It was reported that Trump Jr. and a delegation met Erdoğan during an unannounced visit, casting it as part of Ankara’s effort to arrange a leader-level meeting; however, there has been no official confirmation from the Turkish Presidency or Trump Jr. to date. Turkish and regional outlets have repeated the claim, but on-the-record corroboration remains absent.
What’s on the table
Trump’s Truth Social post flagged three pillars: a Boeing commercial aircraft purchase, a “major F-16” deal, and “continuation of the F-35 talks.” Any movement on the last item would be closely watched given the S-400 issue that triggered Turkey’s removal in 2019. For the F-16 track, Congress cleared a multibillion-dollar package in 2024 covering new jets and modernization kits, providing a foundation for fleet refresh even as Ankara keeps lines open on F-35.
