Trump's explosive remarks: 'Erdoğan wanted to go to war, he would have if it weren't for me'

US President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as part of the NATO Summit held in Ankara. Trump made striking assessments on many topics, from US attacks on Iran to Turkey-Israel relations, and from Spain to Greenland.

HEAVY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE IRANIAN ADMINISTRATION

Defending the US's recent attacks on Iran, Trump said, "Last night, we hit very dangerous people from Iran very hard."

Stating that the agreement reached with Iran has lost its validity from his perspective, Trump expressed that he does not want to sit at the table with the Tehran administration again.

Accusing Iranian officials of "lying" and "deceit," Trump claimed that an agreement had been reached on nuclear weapons, but that Iran later denied it.

Claiming that the Iranian administration has intervened harshly against protesters, Trump argued that the atmosphere of oppression in the country prevents the public from taking action against the government. The US President also stated that he would not oppose the continuation of the negotiation process, but that he does not expect a positive result from it.

Trump used the following expressions in his speech:

"They are liars. We make a deal. Everyone agreed. No nuclear weapons. We make a deal. They go out and talk to the press, saying we never talked about this. There is something wrong with them. They are crazy. Liars, crooks, sick people. They harmed their own people. They have killed 54 thousand people who protested so far. People ask, 'why didn't they seize power?' They can't seize it because they are dead. They killed them. No one can seize power; they don't have weapons, while the other side has machine guns. And then they kill them. The press doesn't report this. If they want, I will let our great negotiators continue to talk, but I don't understand this.

My name is on all of their lists. And so far, I think I've been a little lucky, but this situation might not last very long. Because that's how things work, but we have great people. However, these are bad, perverse people and we must get rid of this cancer. That cancer. So what should you do? You should cut out the cancer at an early stage. I think the Iranians are incompetent. If they were competent, they would have made a deal 47 years ago. I am a successful deal expert. I do business with the Iranians and I must say, this is a completely different approach."

HARSH REACTION TO SPAIN

Trump also targeted NATO member Spain. Describing the Madrid administration as a "bad partner" within the alliance, the US President announced that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to terminate trade relations with Spain.

Saying, "We don't want to trade with Spain anymore," Trump used the following words:

"Don't even try to talk to Spain. They are a lost cause. They are bad people. Spain will come to us and say, 'Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir.' I don't want to have anything to do with them."

In March, Spain announced that it would not allow the use of joint military bases in US operations against Iran and also closed its airspace to American warplanes.

REITERATED GREENLAND MESSAGE

Trump reiterated that Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, is of strategic importance to the US.

Reminding that the security of Greenland was provided by the US during the Second World War, Trump said, "We bought Greenland, then we stupidly gave it back. We shouldn't have given it back."

ERDOĞAN AND NETANYAHU STATEMENT

Trump, who made positive remarks about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made harsh statements about Turkey and Erdoğan.

Stating that Turkey has a strong military capacity, Trump also recalled Ankara's F-35 fighter jet request.

Trump made the following assessment:

"I like President Erdoğan. He rolled out the red carpet for me. He is a great guy. But Bibi said harsh words about Turkey and Erdoğan yesterday. And I said, you know, I talked to him. I said he could have gone to war because he doesn't like Israel much. He doesn't like Bibi much either. He didn't go to war because of me. And this is a military power. Millions of soldiers. Turkey is very strong. They have most of our best equipment. They are trying to get the F-35s. But he didn't go to war. He wanted to. He would have. If it weren't for me, he would have. And he would have taken the other side."

"I DON'T THINK ERDOĞAN LIKES IRAN EITHER"

Trump also made assessments regarding Erdoğan's view of Iran.

Saying, "I don't think Erdoğan likes Iran either," Trump described President Erdoğan as "very sensible," while criticizing the Iranian administration with the words "very crazy."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also stated in his speech at the meeting that the US's recent attacks on Iran were "absolutely necessary," saying that Washington is of the opinion that Iran has violated the ceasefire.

CHINA AND PANAMA CANAL OUTBURST

Trump argued that China was not directly a party to the conflicts with Iran and did not send military equipment to Tehran.

"I think China treated us right. It didn't go to war. It didn't provide equipment to Iran," said Trump, and in the continuation of his statement, he warned Beijing about the Panama Canal.

Claiming that China is trying to increase its influence over the canal, Trump said, "China is trying to take over the Panama Canal. This will not be allowed."