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| Erdogan Hands ‘Tough Guy’ Letter Back to Trump | Erdogan Hands ‘Tough Guy’ Letter Back to Trump |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has said he returned a letter sent to him last month by President Trump that had implored him not to be a “tough guy” or a “fool” as he embarked on an offensive in northern Syria. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has said he returned a letter sent to him last month by President Trump that had implored him not to be a “tough guy” or a “fool” as he embarked on an offensive in northern Syria. |
| “This letter was re-presented to Mr. President this afternoon,” Mr. Erdogan said when asked by a reporter about the message during a joint news conference with Mr. Trump in Washington on Wednesday. | “This letter was re-presented to Mr. President this afternoon,” Mr. Erdogan said when asked by a reporter about the message during a joint news conference with Mr. Trump in Washington on Wednesday. |
| The comments were made during an outwardly warm meeting between the two leaders that comes at an especially fraught time for relations between their countries. Mr. Erdogan began an invasion of northern Syria last month, targeting Kurdish fighters once backed by the United States who were instrumental in the fight against the Islamic State. | The comments were made during an outwardly warm meeting between the two leaders that comes at an especially fraught time for relations between their countries. Mr. Erdogan began an invasion of northern Syria last month, targeting Kurdish fighters once backed by the United States who were instrumental in the fight against the Islamic State. |
| Mr. Trump sent the letter on Oct. 9 urging against the military action, which came after American forces were abruptly pulled out of the region days earlier. Mr. Trump drew criticism for the decision to remove the troops, which many saw as a green light for Mr. Erdogan’s long-planned offensive. | Mr. Trump sent the letter on Oct. 9 urging against the military action, which came after American forces were abruptly pulled out of the region days earlier. Mr. Trump drew criticism for the decision to remove the troops, which many saw as a green light for Mr. Erdogan’s long-planned offensive. |
| Mr. Trump pointed to the letter as evidence that he was not supportive of Mr. Erdogan’s approach. | Mr. Trump pointed to the letter as evidence that he was not supportive of Mr. Erdogan’s approach. |
| “History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way,” Mr. Trump said in the letter. “It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don’t happen. Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool! I will call you later.” | “History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way,” Mr. Trump said in the letter. “It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don’t happen. Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool! I will call you later.” |
| Mr. Erdogan went ahead with his plan despite the warning, drawing ire from many in the United States, including members of Congress who made plans for sanctions against Turkey. Some Turkish news reports suggested at the time that Mr. Erdogan threw the letter in the trash, and he publicly criticized it, telling reporters in Istanbul, “We will not forget this lack of respect.” | Mr. Erdogan went ahead with his plan despite the warning, drawing ire from many in the United States, including members of Congress who made plans for sanctions against Turkey. Some Turkish news reports suggested at the time that Mr. Erdogan threw the letter in the trash, and he publicly criticized it, telling reporters in Istanbul, “We will not forget this lack of respect.” |
| The Turkish government considers the Kurdish fighters to be terrorists because of their links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which has mounted a violent separatist campaign in Turkey for decades. | The Turkish government considers the Kurdish fighters to be terrorists because of their links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which has mounted a violent separatist campaign in Turkey for decades. |
| During the news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Erdogan went on to denounce the Kurdish leader of the Syrian forces that once helped the United States battle the Islamic State, Mazlum Kobani — referring to him by his given name, Ferhat Abdi Sahin. | During the news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Erdogan went on to denounce the Kurdish leader of the Syrian forces that once helped the United States battle the Islamic State, Mazlum Kobani — referring to him by his given name, Ferhat Abdi Sahin. |
| “This individual, Ferhat Abdi Sahin, has been instrumental in the killings of hundreds of Turkish civilians,” Mr. Erdogan said. “A person like this should not be welcomed by a country such as the United States.” | “This individual, Ferhat Abdi Sahin, has been instrumental in the killings of hundreds of Turkish civilians,” Mr. Erdogan said. “A person like this should not be welcomed by a country such as the United States.” |
| Mr. Erdogan later returned to discussion of the letter, noting for a second time, “We gave back the letter that we have received.” | Mr. Erdogan later returned to discussion of the letter, noting for a second time, “We gave back the letter that we have received.” |
| Mr. Trump offered no response to the comment, which was delivered in Turkish but simultaneously translated for the president and those in the news conference. | Mr. Trump offered no response to the comment, which was delivered in Turkish but simultaneously translated for the president and those in the news conference. |
| The Syrian incursion is not the only pain point in the relationship between Turkey and the United States. Turkey’s recent purchase of the advanced Russian S-400 antiaircraft missile system has also upset many in Washington. | The Syrian incursion is not the only pain point in the relationship between Turkey and the United States. Turkey’s recent purchase of the advanced Russian S-400 antiaircraft missile system has also upset many in Washington. |
| Mr. Erdogan also met on Wednesday with five Republican senators — Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — in an attempt to repair the bilateral relationship. | Mr. Erdogan also met on Wednesday with five Republican senators — Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — in an attempt to repair the bilateral relationship. |
| Mr. Scott said, “We know that there’s issues that we’re dealing with right now, but the goal — my goal here and I think all of our goal here — is, at the end of this meeting, we’re in a better position where we’re better allies.” | Mr. Scott said, “We know that there’s issues that we’re dealing with right now, but the goal — my goal here and I think all of our goal here — is, at the end of this meeting, we’re in a better position where we’re better allies.” |
| Despite the recent tensions, Mr. Trump has long expressed admiration for the strongman Turkish leader and the two have found common ground in the past But many in Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — do not share Mr. Trump’s positive view of his Turkish counterpart. | Despite the recent tensions, Mr. Trump has long expressed admiration for the strongman Turkish leader and the two have found common ground in the past But many in Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — do not share Mr. Trump’s positive view of his Turkish counterpart. |
| On Wednesday, Mr. Trump pointed to a cease-fire between Turkish forces and the Kurdish-led militia in northern Syria as a sign of progress, and the leaders offered praise for each other. | On Wednesday, Mr. Trump pointed to a cease-fire between Turkish forces and the Kurdish-led militia in northern Syria as a sign of progress, and the leaders offered praise for each other. |
| Mr. Erdogan repeatedly called President Trump his “dear friend, ” and despite the fact that the two countries remained in opposition over both the Russian missile system purchase and Turkey’s actions in Syria, he said he remained hopeful. | Mr. Erdogan repeatedly called President Trump his “dear friend, ” and despite the fact that the two countries remained in opposition over both the Russian missile system purchase and Turkey’s actions in Syria, he said he remained hopeful. |
| “I think we should remain resolved, in order to open a new chapter in our relations, which are in full compliance with our deeply rooted alliance,” he said. | “I think we should remain resolved, in order to open a new chapter in our relations, which are in full compliance with our deeply rooted alliance,” he said. |
| The American president had equally fond words for his Turkish counterpart. | |
| “I’m a big fan of the president, I have to tell you that,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Erdogan. “And I know that the cease-fire, while complicated, is moving forward and moving forward at a very rapid clip.” | |
| Fadi Hakura, a Turkey expert at Chatham House, a research institution in London, said that despite the cozy relationship between the two leaders, giving back the letter could be an attempt by Mr. Erdogan to play to his base. | Fadi Hakura, a Turkey expert at Chatham House, a research institution in London, said that despite the cozy relationship between the two leaders, giving back the letter could be an attempt by Mr. Erdogan to play to his base. |
| Mr. Hakura said the Turkish leader was seeking “to bolster his nationalist image domestically” by returning the “stridently written letter” to Mr. Trump. | Mr. Hakura said the Turkish leader was seeking “to bolster his nationalist image domestically” by returning the “stridently written letter” to Mr. Trump. |
| Pro-government news outlets in Turkey applauded Mr. Erdogan for returning the letter to Mr. Trump. The Daily Sabah, a newspaper close to the government, ran an article under the headline “Decisive Stance From Erdogan,” noting that the letter “was returned to its owner by hand.” | |
| Hurriyet and Milliyet, two newspapers owned by another pro-government conglomerate, also announced the return of the letter on their front pages. | |
| The Turkish opposition seemed skeptical that the return of the letter had any significance. | |
| Faik Oztrak, a spokesman for the main opposition Republican People’s Party, said in a news conference on Thursday that there had been no apology from Mr. Trump for the “insulting letter” and said that Mr. Erdogan had been too meek in his approach. | |
| “Our country’s honor was not defended sufficiently if this letter was presented and not returned,” he said. “There is no solid outcome of this meeting regarding finding solutions to the problems between the two countries.” | |
| Engin Ozkoc, an opposition member of Parliament, was also critical of Mr. Erdogan’s approach. | |
| “Erdogan is roaring in Turkey but quiet in the U.S.” he wrote on Twitter. “He said he ‘presented’ the despicable letter. The letter shouldn’t have been presented, it should have been returned through diplomatic ways.” |