Trump Praises Erdoğan for Role in Hamas Talks: “He’s a Tough Guy, But a Friend”

Summary:

U.S. President Donald Trump said a ceasefire and permanent peace deal in Gaza is “very close,” adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan played a key role in communicating with Hamas. “Erdoğan was very helpful. He’s a tough guy, but he’s a friend of mine — and he was great,” Trump said in remarks to Axios.

Ceasefire Near in Gaza

President Trump told Axios that the United States is on the verge of finalizing a long-term peace agreement in Gaza, describing the talks as “days away from completion.”

“I spoke with Bibi [Netanyahu], and I told him, ‘This is your chance for victory.’ He agreed — he had no other choice,” Trump said.

According to Trump, Erdoğan’s influence over Hamas has been critical in pushing the militant group toward releasing hostages and agreeing to ceasefire terms.

“Erdoğan Was Very Helpful”

The U.S. president expressed gratitude to his Turkish counterpart, highlighting Ankara’s behind-the-scenes efforts to convince Hamas.

“Erdoğan was very helpful. He’s a tough guy, but he’s a friend of mine — and he was great,” Trump said.

A senior U.S. official told Axios that Trump spoke directly with Erdoğan on Friday, ahead of Hamas’s response to the latest peace proposal. “President Trump told Erdoğan: ‘I did a lot for you, and now I need you to do this,’” the official said, referring to Trump’s efforts to enlist Ankara’s influence over Hamas.

Call Between Trump and Erdoğan

Turkey’s Directorate of Communications confirmed that the phone call between the two leaders took place at Washington’s request and covered both bilateral relations and developments in Gaza.

According to the Turkish readout, Erdoğan emphasized that his recent visit to Washington had further strengthened U.S.-Turkey ties and called for “steps to enhance cooperation in all fields, particularly in the defense industry.”

Sources familiar with the call said the two leaders discussed ways to make the Gaza ceasefire permanent and maintain regional stability.

Diplomatic Push Intensifies

Washington officials say the Trump administration is now in the final stages of brokering a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Over the past week, Trump has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to accelerate the negotiations.

Diplomatic observers note that Erdoğan has emerged as an important intermediary — especially on issues related to hostage releases and sustaining the ceasefire.

A New Chapter in U.S.-Turkey Relations

Trump’s praise for Erdoğan — calling him “a tough guy but a friend” — has been widely interpreted as a signal of renewed warmth between Washington and Ankara.

Analysts suggest that both sides see pragmatic value in rebuilding trust, particularly in defense cooperation and regional diplomacy. Still, critics in the U.S. Congress remain wary of Turkey’s ties to Hamas and its growing assertiveness in the Middle East.

“Trump’s tone reflects a practical partnership more than an ideological alignment,” said one Washington-based analyst. “Erdoğan has influence over actors that the U.S. simply can’t reach — and that makes him indispensable for now.”