The White House confirmed Friday that US President Donald Trump may expand his upcoming Middle East tour to include additional countries, amid speculation that Turkiye could be among the stops, according to Anadolu Agency.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that while the only confirmed destination so far is Saudi Arabia, other countries are being considered. “We’re working on the details,” she added.
CNN reported earlier that Trump is weighing a visit to Turkiye, citing unnamed officials who noted that final decisions are still pending. The report also revealed that Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the potential visit in a recent phone call.
Speaking earlier this week during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump praised Erdogan, calling him “a tough guy” and “very smart.” He controversially claimed that Turkiye played a key role in the downfall of Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad — a statement not backed by historical consensus.
Should the trip happen, it would mark Trump’s first visit to Turkiye as president. Previous US presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama visited Turkiye during their respective terms in 2004, 2009, and 2015.