Chciago – September 25, 2025
President Donald Trump hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The meeting, set for 11:15 a.m. ET, included an Oval Office discussion followed by a working lunch.
Both leaders focused on strengthening bilateral relations with talks covering trade, investment, defense, and regional geopolitical issues.
A key topic likely to arise is the potential lifting of U.S. restrictions on the sale of advanced fighter jets to Turkey. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program during Trump’s previous administration due to Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system, which raised concerns about compromising U.S. military technology.
Trump has recently indicated optimism about resolving this issue and expanding defense deals, including acquisitions of Boeing aircraft and F-16 jets.
The meeting comes at a critical time amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly Gaza, with both leaders expected to discuss regional security and cooperation. Erdogan, who has been absent from the White House since 2019, expressed hope that the visit would deepen partnership and contribute to peace efforts in their shared regions of interest.
