Trump hints at Türkiye visit in May after backing Erdoğan in remarks before Netanyahu

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering adding Türkiye to the itinerary of his Middle East visit next month, following planned stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The potential visit to Türkiye is still under discussion, and no confirmed date has been disclosed. Sources say Trump is expected to begin his regional tour in mid-May, Caliber.Az reports per US media.

A senior White House official told CNN Arabic that Trump had spoken with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by phone recently and discussed the possibility of a visit to Ankara.

Trump does not plan to include Israel in the upcoming trip, according to the same sources.

On March 16, 2025, Presidents Erdoğan and Trump held a phone call to discuss efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, restore stability in Syria, and enhance defense cooperation. Erdoğan expressed support for Trump's initiatives aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions on Syria to facilitate normalization and the return of Syrian refugees. Additionally, they deliberated on Türkiye's potential re-entry into the F-35 fighter jet program and addressed concerns regarding Türkiye's acquisition of the Russian S-400 defense system. ​

The prospect of a Türkiye stop comes shortly after Trump publicly praised President Erdoğan in early April 2025 while speaking in front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Any problem that you have with Türkiye, I think I can solve. I mean, as long as you're reasonable, you have to be reasonable. We have to be reasonable," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"Bibi, if you have a problem with Türkiye, I really think you're going to be able to work it out. You know, I have a very, very good relationship with Türkiye 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," he added, using Netanyahu’s nickname.

By Aghakazim Guliyev