Trump praises « very smart » Turkish strongman Erdoğan/Rebecca Falconer/AXIOS

Axios April 8, 2025

President Trump praised Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for being « very smart » during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday and suggested he could work as a mediator between Israel and Turkey.

Why it matters: Critics including Republican Against Trump slammed the president’s praise for « autocratic leader Erdoğan » — a charge that’s been leveled against Turkey’s president for moves including last month having his main opposition rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, detained along with over 100 other officials, which rights groups said was « politically motivated. »

• Erdoğan has been accused of « eroding » Turkey’s democracy during his 22 years as president, with his government controlling the country’s courts and most media.
• Trump’s admiration for strongmen is well-documented. He sought to build close ties during his first term with leaders of traditional U.S. adversaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Driving the news: Trump was asked during a briefing with Netanyahu on Monday about Turkey’s influence in Syria and Israel’s objections to this, with Israeli forces in recent days striking Syrian targets and accusing Turkey of playing a « negative role » in the country following the collapse of the Assad regime — for which Trump on Monday credited Erdoğan.

• « I have a very, very good relationship with Turkey and with their leader, and I think we’ll be able to work it out. So I hope that’s not going to be a problem. I don’t think it will be a problem, » Trump said.
• « I happen to like him, and he likes me … and we’ve never had a problem, » Trump said of Erdoğan.

• Trump said he told Netanyahu, « If you have a problem with Turkey, I really think you’re going to be able to work it out. »
• He turned to Netanyahu and said, « Any problem that you have with Turkey, I think I can solve. I mean, as long as you’re reasonable, you have to be reasonable. We have to be reasonable. »
• Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment Monday evening.