Trump Expected to Tell Turkey He Is Ready to Restore Access to F-35 Jets
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-07-07 05:01:00 — www.nytimes.com
Trump Signals Willingness to Reverse F-35 Ban on Turkey, Faces Congressional Hurdles
President Trump is expected to tell Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is prepared to restore Turkey’s access to the F-35 stealth fighter jet program—a move that would reverse a ban Trump himself imposed seven years ago on national security grounds. Trump, who is heading to a NATO summit in Ankara this week, has said he was preparing to bring a gift that would make Erdogan “very happy.” However, the shift could face significant opposition in Congress, which could seek to block the action.
Trump’s position marks a dramatic reversal from his first term, when Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing advanced S-400 antiaircraft systems from Russia. At the time, the U.S. government feared that Russia could use the S-400s to gather intelligence on the F-35’s stealth capabilities. The White House then stated, “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities.” Despite this, Trump was reportedly never comfortable with the decision and has frequently blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama, for the circumstances that led to it.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly mused, both publicly and privately, about reversing the ban. Last month, sitting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said he would bring Erdogan a gift that would make him “very happy.” Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Trump had directed administration officials to find a way to deliver the jets to Turkey, stating, “The president has asked us to do that.” Trump later added, “We will work it out.”
Despite Trump’s determination, legal and congressional barriers remain. A law passed by Congress in 2020 blocks the sale of F-35s to Turkey unless the administration certifies that Turkey no longer possesses the Russian S-400 systems. Administration officials have floated various options, such as transferring the S-400s to a third party or making them inoperable, but no mechanism has been finalized.
Trump’s unpredictable approach and willingness to bypass established restrictions have raised concerns among lawmakers and allies. Some Republicans, including Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, have expressed skepticism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the idea of selling F-35s to Turkey, citing Erdogan’s hostile rhetoric toward Israel and regional neighbors.
Trump’s stance on the F-35 issue is part of a broader pattern of erratic foreign policy moves. He has repeatedly complained that European allies do not contribute enough to NATO and has adopted some of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points about the war in Ukraine. Trump’s unpredictable behavior has splintered the alliance and created uncertainty among U.S. partners.
As Trump prepares to meet Erdogan and other NATO leaders in Ankara, the fate of the F-35 deal remains uncertain. While Trump insists, “We will work it out,” the path forward is complicated by legal, political, and diplomatic challenges. The episode underscores Trump’s willingness to reverse his own policies and challenge longstanding U.S. security concerns, even in the face of significant opposition at home and abroad.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/trump-turkey-f35.html