Trump Plans to Visit Several Middle Eastern Countries in May, Including Saudi Arabia and Possibly Turkey – White House
Washington
The White House announced on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to visit additional countries during his upcoming trip to the Middle East next month, with speculation swirling about a possible visit to Turkey as well.
In response to a reporter's question, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said,
“I don't have specific details about the President’s foreign trip, but I can confirm that he is going to Saudi Arabia. As part of this trip, more countries may be added. We are still working out the details.”
CNN reported on Thursday that Trump is considering adding Turkey to his upcoming Middle East tour. However, sources indicate that a final decision has not yet been made, and the itinerary is still being finalized.
A senior White House official told CNN that Trump recently discussed a possible visit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a phone call.
On Monday, Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and spoke positively about his relationship with Erdoğan.
He said, “I have a very good relationship with Turkey and their leader.”
Trump described Erdoğan as “a tough leader, very intelligent, and someone who has done things no one else could,” adding that, in his view, “Turkey was instrumental in the fall of Syria’s long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.”
If this visit takes place, it will be Trump’s first visit to Turkey as President. His predecessors, George W. Bush, visited Turkey in 2004, and Barack Obama made visits in 2009 and 2015.
