Erdoğan Mocks Trump’s War Promises Ahead of White House Visit, Rubio Fires Back

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly challenged Donald Trump’s pledges to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The diplomatic exchange comes just days before Erdoğan’s scheduled visit to the White House.

In a high-profile interview with Fox News on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past vows to resolve global conflicts swiftly if re-elected. His comments—delivered on a major U.S. news outlet—triggered immediate pushback from top officials in Washington.

Erdoğan Questions Trump’s Track Record

During the interview with anchor Bret Baier on Special Report, Erdoğan was asked about potential pathways to ending the war in Gaza, which has now entered its second year. Instead of offering a clear roadmap, he pivoted to critique Trump’s rhetorical promises.

“Mr. Trump, you might remember, said ‘I will finish the Russia-Ukraine war.’ Did it end? It still goes on. Similarly, he said ‘I will finish the war in Gaza.’ Did it end? No,” Erdoğan remarked.

He went on to emphasize the complexity of resolving such conflicts, referencing recent hostage exchanges as incremental but insufficient progress.

“There are prices to pay,” Erdoğan said, adding that while negotiations are ongoing, “it goes on.”

Trump: “I Spoke Figuratively”

Trump, who previously told Time magazine that his pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours was “figurative” and “an exaggeration,” has insisted he would nevertheless achieve peace if given another term.

“It was said in jest, but it will be ended,” Trump stated, blaming President Joe Biden for prolonging the conflict and arguing that “Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 would have never happened” under his leadership—a reference to the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war.

Rubio Defends Trump on Fox

Responding to Erdoğan’s remarks on Fox & Friends the next morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back forcefully.

“Look, I didn’t hear the entirety of the interview,” Rubio said, “but on both issues—Russia-Ukraine and Gaza—the only leader in the world with any chance of bringing this to an end is President Trump.”

Rubio also suggested that behind closed doors, many nations—including Türkiye—are eager for U.S. leadership, even if they criticize it publicly.

“All these other countries, including Türkiye by the way, are begging us to be involved. They want us to be involved… When they want something done, they come to the White House,” he said.

Timing: White House Talks Just Days Away

The war of words comes at a diplomatically sensitive moment. Erdoğan is set to visit the White House on Thursday for high-level talks with President Trump, with trade and military agreements at the top of the agenda.

On Truth Social, Trump previously confirmed the two leaders were working on a series of deals, including:

• A major Boeing aircraft purchase

• A renewed F-16 fighter jet agreement

• And continued dialogue on Türkiye’s suspended participation in the F-35 program

The visit is widely seen as an opportunity for both leaders to reset strained ties and deepen cooperation in defense and energy.

UNGA Spotlight & Security Concerns

Both Erdoğan and Trump are also expected to deliver speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. The U.S. Secret Service recently announced it had dismantled a regional network of electronic devices allegedly used to threaten high-level U.S. officials, underscoring security tensions around the high-stakes diplomatic week.

While the Erdoğan–Trump exchange may appear symbolic, it reflects deeper frictions between Washington and Ankara over global conflict resolution, NATO coordination, and public diplomacy.

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