Trump’s friendship with Erdogan ignores Turkey’s hosting of Hamas - opinion

This opinion piece argues that US President Donald Trump's public praise for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan contradicts Trump's stated condemnation of Hamas, given Turkey's hosting of Hamas leaders. The author questions whether Trump is being manipulated by Erdogan, citing Turkey's authoritarian rule, suppression of civil liberties, and alignment with anti-Western regimes as incompatible with American values.

This opinion piece by Cookie Schwaeber-Issan argues that US President Donald Trump's public friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is dangerously inconsistent with Trump's stated condemnation of Hamas. The author notes that Trump calls Hamas 'terrorists' and 'killers' while praising Erdogan as a 'fantastic guy' and a 'strong leader,' despite Turkey hosting Hamas leaders. The piece references Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN General Assembly speech claiming that Turkey finances anti-Israel information and spreads antisemitism while hosting Hamas terror chiefs. The author questions whether Trump's desire for peace and flattery from Erdogan has blinded him to Erdogan's authoritarian rule, which includes jailing journalists, rigging elections, suppressing civil liberties, and running a kleptocratic system. The piece also highlights Turkey's alignment with Russia, Iran, Qatar, and Venezuela, and its anti-Western policies despite NATO membership. The author concludes that Trump is playing a dangerous game by attributing good character to a leader with malevolent aspirations, and that true peace requires acknowledging evil rather than calling it good.