(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Tuesday, President Donald Trump defended Turkey’s purchase of the non-NATO Russian S-400 missile defense system, putting the blame on the Obama administration for refusing to sell to Erdogan our patriot missile defense system under any circumstance, which in turn forced Turkey to go to Russia, which he says Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn’t want to do.
Editor’s note: Is the above run-on sentence confusing? I think so too, and I wrote it. Let me try again.
President Trump declined on Tuesday to criticize Turkey’s purchase of a Russian missile system opposed by the Pentagon and NATO, saying Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced into the move by his predecessor Barack Obama.
Editor’s note: Better, yeah?
Trump: “I’ve had a good relationship with President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan. It’s a very tough situation that they’re in and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in … With all of that being said, we’re working through it – we’ll see what happens.”
The President lamented the fact that the Pentagon has suspended Turkey from participating in the NATO F-35 fighter jet production program and from buying planned-for 100 F-35s.
“Because they have a system of missiles that’s made in Russia, they’re now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn’t exactly happy. That’s a lot of jobs,” said Trump.
Editor’s note: I’m lost again. Let’s listen to Tony Katz and see if that clears things up, yes?
