President Trump arrived in Turkey on Tuesday for a NATO summit using the opening moments of their bilateral meeting with President Erdogan to praise what he called “a very special relationship” with the Turkish leader.

The day began at Etimesgut Air Base, where Air Force One touched down at 1:51 p.m. local time. Trump stepped off the plane at 2:15 p.m., where Erdogan was waiting to greet him at the foot of an aqua blue carpet.

The two leaders spoke briefly and posed for photos before heading inside the main terminal building at the air base, an ornate structure marked by marble slabs and sweeping arches. Trump paused at the end of the carpet to speak with the Turkish leader.

By mid-afternoon, the show had moved to the Beştepe Presidential Compound. At 3:27 p.m., the band began playing the Star-Spangled Banner. What sounded like cannons could be heard in the background, functioning as staccatos to the music. Four red fighter jets screamed overhead trailing red, white and blue smoke.

Trump and Erdogan then emerged from the wall of soldiers and entered the building at 3:33 p.m.

Trump: You never know why a relationship is special

Inside the bilateral meeting, the two leaders seated opposite each other. On the couch beside Trump sat, in order closest to furthest from him, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Erdogan began by thanking Trump for attending the NATO summit.

Trump responded by casting their relationship in personal terms, saying he and Erdogan are “great” friends.

“To see such a beautiful airport and to have a building named after me, that was very nice,” Trump said.

“The roads coming in were brand new and beautiful,” he added.

Trump repeatedly emphasized his rapport with Erdogan.

“Good chemistry, we’ve had a very special relationship,” Trump said.

“Because of the relationship that we have it’s all gone very well. I want to say I have a lot of respect for the president,” he continued.

Trump said the two leaders would discuss trade, the military and Iran during their bilateral meeting. Asked about F-35s, Trump did not announce a decision but left the door open.

“We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal, so something that we would consider,” Trump said.

“It’s certainly something we will consider,” he added.

Pressed on why his relationship with Erdogan is special, Trump pointed back to his first term and Erdogan’s role in helping secure the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

“You never know why a relationship is special,” Trump said.

But it was Trump’s comments on Iran that offered the sharpest window into his view of America’s alliances.

“We didn’t need any help at all. And in a way, I was testing people, I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there, because I’d wrong said that we helped them, but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us. And Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down, and it’s okay, but you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars, and they’re not there for us? We’ve always been there for them.”

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Good afternoon from Ankara, where Air Force One was wheels down at Etimesgut Air Base at 1:51 p.m. local time. There were no visitors to the press cabin during the flight. Journalists got a mostly restful overnight…

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