President Trump thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a joint press conference Wednesday afternoon for working closely with the U.S. on several Middle East issues while noting the "challenges" created by Turkey's purchasing of Russian military equipment.
Among the topics the two leaders discussed at the White House was Turkey's decision to purchase a Russian missile defense program and its attacks on Kurdish forces in Syria.
The meeting comes at a low point in Turkish-U.S. relations, particularly in terms of Syria following Turkey's offensive against Kurds in the nation who had been solid allies of the U.S. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported the existence of U.S. drone video evidence of Turkish-backed gunmen targeting civilians in October.
Turkey began launching attacks in northern Syria, almost immediately after Trump announced the U.S. would pull out remaining troops. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned Erdogan's actions in Syria as well as Trump's decision to pull the troops.
"I want to thank his partnership as we work to build a safe and prosperous Middle East," Trump said Wednesday. "I'm a big fan of the president."
Erdogan called Turkey the "most reliable partner in the region" for the U.S.
While Trump and Erdogan met, lawmakers spent more than six hours in the first of public impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill. President Trump said he was "too busy" to watch but also tweeted about the events happening down the street.
When questioned about the impeachment inquiry, Trump called it "a sham" that "shouldn't be allowed."
Trump said he will be releasing a second call related to the impeachment inquiry tomorrow, which he said predates the July 25 call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
He added, "I'd much rather focus on peace in the Middle East."
Fox News' John Roberts asked the president about the phone call between Trump and U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland that Ambassador Bill Taylor recounted in his testimony earlier today.
"I know nothing about that," Trump said. "I've never heard it [...] not even a little bit."
Taylor testified today that his staffer accompanied Sondland to a restaurant on July 26, heard Trump ask Sondland about "the investigations" and, after the call, Sondland told the staffer that "President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden."
Trump joked "only friendly reporters" from Turkey could ask questions.
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Change Research Senior Pollster Nancy Zdunkewicz spoke to Cheddar News about just what is driving the President’s disapproval rating.
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Today marks one year since the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. The Country watched as supporters of then-President Trump stormed what was assumed to be the most secure building in the country in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 Election. Several lawmakers, including the Vice President, could be seen ducking down as they feared for their lives. Democratic Michigan Representative Dan Kildee, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
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Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine joins Cheddar Politics to discuss his lawsuit against the extremist groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over their role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Josh Pasek, a professor at the University of Michigan and expert on political communication and misinformation, joins Cheddar News to discuss how political radicalization happens and how America got to this point.
Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, joins Cheddar News to discuss what to expect at the 2022 midterm elections.
