Trump Rejects Netanyahu Opposition to Turkey F-35 Jet Sales

President Donald Trump rejected efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets and engines to Türkiye. Speaking aboard Air Force One on July 27, Trump asserted that "nobody tells me what we should be selling," describing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a "friend" and a "tremendous ally."

Netanyahu argued that providing the aircraft to Türkiye would "destroy the power balance in the Middle East" and claimed Türkiye is not a friendly state to the United States. The dispute follows a 2019 suspension of Türkiye from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 missile defense systems. Despite Trump's willingness to restore sales, the transfer remains subject to legal and congressional hurdles.

The friction precedes a White House meeting on July 28, the first in-person talks between the two leaders since the conflict with Iran began in February 2026. Trump signaled tension ahead of the meeting, stating that Israel "wouldn’t survive" without the United States. While the leaders disagree on the F-35 sale and the duration of the conflict in Lebanon, Trump noted they remain "pretty close" on their positions regarding Iran, which has reportedly requested new talks after U.S. military strikes.