Two sultans in the bazaar

US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) successful the Oval Office of the White House, successful Washington, DC, US, connected 25 September 2025. [Yuri Gripas/EPA]

It was hard to marque retired which of the two was the true sultan. Perhaps that’s why Recep Tayip Erdogan’s look was frozen successful panic yesterday arsenic Donald Trump went connected astir their narration and astir what would travel successful their luncheon gathering aft the property accidental successful the Oval Office (which, successful its contiguous form, would nonstop the grandest of sultans into paroxysms of envy).

Having achieved his much-desired day with Trump, Erdogan listed the things helium wanted to sermon – the acquisition of F-16 and F-35 combatant planes and an extremity to Halkbank’s travails successful the US justness system (for breaking the embargo against Iran). Trump, successful turn, was asked when arms sanctions mightiness beryllium lifted against Turkey. He declared, “If we person a bully meeting, astir immediately.” The connection was clear: Sanctions whitethorn oregon whitethorn not beryllium lifted.

Referring to bully relations helium had with Erdogan adjacent during his “exile” due to the fact that of what helium claims were “rigged elections,” Trump nodded towards his guest, saying, “He knows astir rigged elections amended than anybody.” How could the maestro of each soiled governmental trick successful the publication not wonder whether this was precocious praise oregon a sly challenge? 

Even arsenic Trump was saying that Erdogan “is a highly respected antheral successful his country… and the full world,” that “it’s an grant to person him astatine the White House,” and that “I person large respect for this man,” it was wide that the talks that would travel would not beryllium plain sailing for the Turkish president. Trump reminded him of however (in 2018) helium had forced him to merchandise an American Evangelical pastor (Andrew Brunson) who had been jailed for 35 years, which had prompted US sanctions. “I’d similar to person him stop buying immoderate lipid from Russia while Russia continues this rampage against Ukraine,” Trump added. And arsenic if that were not enough, Trump said helium would “appreciate” Erdogan’s “help” successful reopening the Halki Theological School.

The operation of flattery and menace made a wide constituent – if Erdogan gives Trump whatever helium wants, helium whitethorn get something, too. The sultan was challenged astatine his ain game. It remains to beryllium seen what each takes location from the bazaar.