Rep. Mike Lawler Opposes U.S. Sale of F-35 Jets to Turkey

Republican Representative Mike Lawler (R‑NY) publicly broke with the Trump administration by warning that the proposed sale of advanced F‑35 fighter aircraft to Turkey poses significant national‑security risks. In a social‑media post he cited Turkey’s questionable reliability as a NATO ally, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s conduct, and the fact that Congress previously prohibited the transfer. Lawler said the deal “is not in the best interests of the United States.” His criticism was amplified by commentator Erick Erickson. Turkey was removed from the F‑35 program during Trump’s first term after buying a Russian missile‑defence system, underscoring longstanding concerns about the partnership.