Trump weighs F-35 sale to Turkey despite Netanyahu's opposition
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said he is actively considering selling F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, despite mounting objections from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly and privately urged Washington to block the deal.
Trump's remarks came as the NATO summit placed renewed focus on US-Turkey relations, exposing a rare policy disagreement between two of America's closest Middle East partners over one of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft.
Speaking to reporters, Trump praised Turkey as a dependable ally and suggested the proposed sale remains under serious review, even though Congress previously prohibited Ankara from purchasing the aircraft.
Trump praises Turkey's loyalty
Trump defended Turkey's standing within NATO while discussing the future of the F-35 program.
Trump on the possibility of selling F-35s to Turkey:
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 7, 2026
"It's a decision we are going to make... Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal, so, yeah, it's something certainly we would consider." pic.twitter.com/yZxBhjMm6J
"We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," the president said.
Calling the F-35 "the best plane by far," Trump added that selling the aircraft to Turkey was "certainly something we consider."
The remarks represent a notable shift after Trump suspended Turkey from the F-35 program during his first term following Ankara's purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense system.
Since then, Congress has codified restrictions on transferring the fifth-generation fighter to Turkey, leaving questions over how any future sale could proceed.
Congress remains major obstacle for F-35 transfers
The proposed sale faces significant legal hurdles beyond White House approval.
(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
Turkey was expelled from the multinational F-35 program in 2019 after taking delivery of Russia's S-400 missile defense system, with US officials arguing the Russian platform could compromise sensitive F-35 technology.
Congress subsequently enacted legislation restricting F-35 transfers to Turkey, meaning any effort to resume deliveries would likely require satisfying statutory conditions or securing congressional support.
The uncertainty has raised questions about whether the administration can move forward without lawmakers' approval.
Netanyahu warns against sale to Turkey
Netanyahu has emerged as one of the proposal's strongest critics, arguing that supplying F-35s to Turkey would alter the regional balance of power and weaken Israel's longstanding qualitative military edge.
"A man who openly calls for the destruction of Israel, the takeover of Cyprus, threatens Greece, and wants to invade Jerusalem and rule it. The Muslim Brotherhood holds the regime—I don't think they deserve F-35s. This is a threat to the regional balance and to our security." -…
— WeinrothForBocaRaton (@Weinroth4Boca) July 7, 2026
In an interview with Fox News, the Israeli prime minister warned that arming what he described as "a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood" would threaten regional stability.
According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu has also raised the issue directly with Trump in private, urging him to abandon the proposal.
Trump's willingness to keep the sale under consideration marks a rare point of disagreement between the two leaders, whose administrations have generally maintained close ties on Middle East policy. If approved, the deal would represent one of the most consequential US defense policy shifts involving a NATO ally in recent years.
