Donald Trump Rejects Netanyahu's Opposition to Turkey F‑35 Sale

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Turkey F‑35 sale S‑400 sanctions CAATSA

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “nobody tells me what we should be selling,” refusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objection to a possible sale of F‑35 stealth fighters to Turkey. Trump praised Turkey as a “tremendous” or “solid” ally and said the decision on the aircraft rests with Washington, not Israel. He hinted that the United States could consider lifting sanctions linked to Turkey’s Russian S‑400 missile‑defence system, which led to Turkey’s removal from the F‑35 program in 2019. Netanyahu warned that equipping Ankara with F‑35s would upset the regional balance of power in the Middle East. U.S. law (CAATSA) currently bars the sale while Turkey retains the S‑400, but Trump suggested the U.S. might revisit the restriction. The remarks came during the NATO summit in Ankara and were repeated in multiple national media outlets, underscoring a growing strategic divide between the United States and Israel over Turkey’s role in the region.

Entities: Benjamin Netanyahu · Binyamin Netanyahu · Donald Trump · F‑35 fighter jet · Israel · Recep Tayyip Erdoğan · Republic of Turkey · Turkey · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Trump said Turkey has a strong army and extensive equipment. (Donald Trump)
[● 10 SOURCES] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the sale of F‑35 jets to Turkey, saying it would upset the regional military balance. (netanyahu)
[● 3 SOURCES] Donald Trump said the United States will consider selling F‑35 fighter jets to Turkey. (Donald Trump)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Turkey had previously been a partner in the F‑35 production program, manufacturing parts until 2021. (Background information)
[● 3 SOURCES] Trump hinted that CAATSA sanctions on Turkey could be eased to allow the F‑35 sale. (trump)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Trump said no one can tell the United States what to sell and to whom. (Donald Trump)
[● 3 SOURCES] Trump described Turkey as a loyal and great ally. (Donald Trump)
[● 4 SOURCES] Trump said the final decision on the F‑35 sale rests with Washington, not Israel. (trump)
[● 10 SOURCES] Trump called Turkey a tremendous/very important ally and praised its regional work. (Trump)
[● 10 SOURCES] Trump said the final decision on the F‑35 sale to Turkey rests with Washington, not Israel. (Trump)
[● 5 SOURCES] U.S. law (CAATSA) prohibits the sale of F‑35 jets to Turkey while it retains the S‑400 system. (law)
[● 9 SOURCES] Trump indicated the United States is considering resuming the sale of F‑35 jets to Turkey and possibly lifting CAATSA sanctions linked to Turkey’s S‑400 system. (Trump)