Trump defends F-35 sales to Turkiye against Netanyahu's warnings: 'Israel can't survive without US'
President Trump praised Netanyahu for his support in ongoing Iran War
Published July 28, 2026
United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has brushed aside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s concerns regarding the possible sale of fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkiye, who the POTUS described as “great ally.”
Aboard the Air Force One, while en route to Waterford Township on July 27, 2026, the 80-year-old Republican leader was asked if he had anything to say about Netanyahu’s opposition to the Turkiye-US jets deal.
The president replied, “Turkiye’s been a great ally. I think he (Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan) has done a very good job, very good job in Syria. He’s a friend of mine.”
Trump added, “Nobody tells me what we should be selling. Turkiye has been a tremendous ally. If it was up to Turkiye, Turkiye would -- Turkiye is not a big fan of Israel, you know that, right? And not a big fan of Bibi.”
The US president also talked about the ongoing Iran war, stating that Israel’s existence would have been terminated by the Islamic Republic of Iran if the US didn’t get involved and blow up the Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump said Israel cannot survive without the US.
Earlier during the NATO summit in July in Ankara, the US president said that he might sell F-35s to Turkiye after loosening restrictions. Turkiye was sanctioned after it bought Russia’s S-400 missile defence system.
However, no final decision regarding the sale of fifth-generation fighter jets has been announced so far.
