The Price of a White House Invitation!..

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel frequently emphasizes that on the Palestinian issue, Erdoğan only criticizes Netanyahu but doesn't dare say a word against Trump, even claiming he is "trembling in fear"; however, on Thursday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made an interesting statement.

In an interview with Egyptian television, Fidan was asked the following question regarding the genocide in Gaza and Israel's aggression in the region:

"As a NATO member, Turkey's relations with the US are currently extremely good, and there is even a relationship between the leaders at a personal level, between Erdoğan and Trump. So, is it possible to use this great influence as an instrument? Or how can we use this against the other side?"

After explaining that this is an important issue, that Erdoğan spends a large part of his time on international diplomacy specifically to stop the genocide in Gaza, and that he constantly highlights the Gaza issue and stability in Syria in every conversation with Trump, Fidan said the following:

"But as you also know, there is a reality that has been built in American domestic politics for decades. That reality is the reality of who controls whom and who manages whom. It has emerged in these recent events that, in fact, the US does not have as much influence over Israeli policies as is thought. Perhaps the opposite is possible."

In other words, he implied that "Trump is not powerful enough because Israel actually runs the US," effectively exonerating Trump... Perhaps this was also an indirect response to CHP Chairman Özgür Özel...

Yet, it was not long ago, in August of last year, when Hakan Fidan himself made this call to the US during his visit to Egypt:

"America's attempt to clean up after every kind of evil committed by Israel, to try to mitigate it, has ceased to be an acceptable pattern. The owners must now take the leash into their own hands and take responsibility. The region is in no position to tolerate any more Israeli provocations."

Since Israel could not have taken over the US in just one year, what should we attribute this effort to exonerate Trump to now?!

It Was a Long-Awaited Appointment

The Erdoğan-Trump "friendship" is legendary... Even Trump's threats of "Don't be a fool, be smart... I will destroy your economy" did not damage this friendship...

When Trump set out on his Middle East tour in May during his second term as President, he was eagerly expected to visit Turkey as well... It didn't happen.

Erdoğan's visit to the US was planned for June... That didn't happen either.

Then, on Wednesday evening, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel claimed that Erdoğan had met with Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., on Saturday, September 13, while keeping the name secret, and said, "He is bargaining with him... While Palestine is bleeding, they are doing business with Trump's son through lobbying firms. They are leaving Palestine and our brothers in Palestine alone and abandoning them to Trump."

Surprisingly, for almost the first time, an allegation was not denied, and no one made a sound.

Ultimately, when US sources confirmed this, Özgür Özel explained the following in Turgutlu, Manisa, the day before:

"Yesterday, a resolution supporting Palestine against Israel was adopted at the UN Security Council by a vote of 14 to one, and Trump vetoed that resolution. He [Erdoğan] went to Istanbul with Trump's son and held a secret meeting. And during that meeting, he requested an appointment with Trump during his trip to America. Trump's son said, 'That won't work on those days, let's make it the 30th. Go and come back a week later.' He said, 'A week later won't work, let's make it October 8-9.' But they are asking for something in return. There is only one thing we could ask from this Trump. Only one thing. Let Israel stop the massacre in Palestine; do not encourage this, do not pave the way for this. Prevent this. While there was this to say, while there was this to discuss with Trump, our man—well, look, just as he couldn't deny the meeting, he can't deny this either—tells Trump's son, 'If you arrange an appointment for me, I promise to order 300 Boeing aircraft from America in front of the whole world on live television.' They are trying to arrange the meeting on this condition. I condemn Tayyip Erdoğan, who left Palestine alone, made a deal with Trump for his own power, and carried out the March 19 coup with Trump's permission, and I invite him to clarify this meeting as soon as possible."

Coincidentally, on the same day, while announcing on his social media account that he would host Erdoğan at the White House on September 25, Trump made the following statement:

"We are working on many trade and military deals with the President, including large-scale purchases of Boeing aircraft, an important F-16 deal, and the continuation of F-35 discussions that we expect to have positive results. I have always had a very good relationship with President Erdoğan. I look forward to seeing him on the 25th."

Following Trump, Erdoğan also stated in a post he made at midnight: "In our meeting at the White House with my esteemed colleague and friend, US President Mr. Donald Trump, we will discuss many issues, primarily trade, investment, and the defense industry, with our ally the US, with whom we have comprehensive strategic relations. I believe that our meeting with President Trump will contribute to ending wars and conflicts in our region within the framework of our common vision for global peace, and will further strengthen the cooperation between our countries."

While Selvi Had Given Up Hope on Trump

Let us just recall the position of Erdoğan's "friend" Trump regarding Gaza and Syria.

He plans to empty Gaza through genocide and exile and build casinos... He plans to sell $6 billion worth of weapons to Israel and finance this under the US foreign military aid program... He is preparing to provide $130 million in aid to the Syrian PKK from the 2026 budget.

Abdülkadir Selvi, who first took his hat off to Trump for warning Netanyahu and for his approach to the Syria issue, said, "We need Trump. Especially because of his relations with Erdoğan. That is why he must have a long life"...

Before the ink on these lines had even dried, after witnessing his Gaza policy, his stance on striking Iran, his relations with Israel, and his approach to Ukraine, he was forced to ask, 'Which Trump should we believe?' yet he continued to defend Trump due to 'Turkey's interests' and 'his relationship with Erdoğan'...

But as of Thursday, even he reached the point of saying, 'Now we are going to get up and expect this America to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza and be fair! Even the crows would laugh at this. The problem is not just an Israeli problem. The problem is also a US problem. We are watching a US-Israeli joint production massacre in Gaza... The crime of genocide in Gaza is not just Israel's doing. The US is also guilty of this genocide. The US must also be held accountable... Israel has the US wrapped around its finger.'

Yet, Erdoğan believes that his meeting with this man, within the framework of 'shared global peace visions,' will 'contribute to stopping the wars and conflicts in our region'!..

Alas, alas!..

An Answer to Bahçeli's 'TRC Alliance'?

Setting Abdülkadir Selvi aside, two days before the Erdoğan-Trump appointment was finalized, the influential and authorized partner of the government, MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, had made an important statement.

Criticizing the US and Israel severely and stating, 'If Jerusalem falls, Ankara loses, and Istanbul will be scorched,' Bahçeli proposed a 'TRC' alliance, meaning 'Turkey, Russia, and China,' against the 'US-Israel evil coalition.'

There was no sound from the AKP side regarding this proposal... Only yesterday, Okan Müderrisoğlu, the Ankara Representative of the pro-government newspaper Sabah, after praising Bahçeli, wrote that it would be beneficial for Turkey to intensify its contacts with China and Russia until their relations with the US become clear, but that one should not 'rely too heavily on these two axes.'

In short, how might Erdoğan's appointment with Trump, a partner in the "coalition of evil," be interpreted by the MHP front?

It could be called "a hefty response to that proposal by Bahçeli"... It could also be thought that the proposal contributed to accelerating the Trump appointment!..

If only the price of this appointment, which the government and its media welcomed with enthusiasm, were just the "purchase of large-scale Boeing aircraft," as Trump himself emphasized...

What about the price of managing the great Republic of Turkey like a corporation...

Can the price of the wound opened in the honor of the Turkish Nation by calling Trump—who seeks to turn this place into a casino while babies are starved to death in Gaza and who arms the Syrian PKK—"my friend" ever be calculated?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

September 21, 2025