Trump: NATO Struggles With Erdoğan, I Solve the Problems

WISE NEWS PRESS / LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — DEC. 10, 2025

US President Donald Trump stated in a recent interview that NATO struggles to "deal with" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, claiming he is the one called upon to resolve issues quickly.

Speaking to Politico, which named him the most influential person shaping Europe, Trump discussed the Russia-Ukraine war, the state of the alliance, and migration policies. When asked if there were countries that should not be in NATO, he pointed to Turkey as an example of a nation that presents challenges for the alliance.

'I call him and we work it out'

Trump described Erdoğan as a "friend" but acknowledged he is a "tough nut" to crack. "When they have a problem with Erdoğan, they want me to call him because they can't talk to him," Trump said.

He added that while Erdoğan has built a "strong country and a strong army," NATO officials struggle to handle him, leading Trump to intervene. "They want me to call. I call, and we always work it out. He and I solve it very quickly," Trump stated.

The President also mentioned a specific instance where he asked Erdoğan to release detained individuals. "He released some people who had been going through years of trials... I said you have to release them, and he did," Trump noted, though he did not specify who these individuals were.

'Russia is in a stronger position'

Addressing the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, Trump asserted that Russia holds a stronger position in negotiations because it is a "much bigger country". He reiterated his claim that World War III could have erupted if he were not president.

"It probably won't happen now. But I think if I weren't president, there would be a Third World War," he stated, adding that the situation remains a major problem that Europe is managing poorly.

Criticism of Europe and Ukraine

Trump accused European nations of being "weak" and obsessed with political correctness, arguing they "do not know what to do" regarding the crisis.

He also suggested that the Ukrainian government is using the war to avoid holding elections. Elections in Ukraine have been postponed due to martial law declared after Russia's invasion in February 2022. "I think it is important to go to elections... the Ukrainian people should have this option," Trump argued.

He further commented that the intense personal animosity between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes reaching an agreement difficult.

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