Trump says he has 'no concerns at all' over potential F-35 sale to Turkey

The Trump administration's decision to potentially violate a congressional ban and sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey has become a point of massive concern due to a serious national security risk of exposing America's most advanced stealth technology to Russian intelligence via Ankara's S-400 missile radar system. However, when asked about the same by a reporter, President Donald Trump appeared to lack critical information and made it clear that he has no concerns "at all about anything." 

During a joint press conference Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Trump was asked whether the potential F-35 sale would require Turkey to hand over its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system to a third party. "Third party? What is the third—with respect to what?" Trump asked. When the reporter explained that there are concerns about the potential military sale as Turkey possesses the Russian missile defense system, Trump offered little explanation.

"I have no concerns at all about anything," Trump said, before heaping praise on Turkey and Erdogan. "I mean, he's a leader of a country that he's made a much better country, a much more powerful country. You see it, I mean, it’s beautiful. You get off the roads are beautiful; it's an amazing thing. No, I have no concerns with anything having to do with Turkey," Trump said. "I would say the relationship with Turkey right now is better, probably than it's ever been."

However, under U.S. law, the Trump administration cannot legally sell or transfer F-35 fighter jets to Turkey as long as Ankara owns and operates the Russian S-400 system. In 2019, during Trump's first term, Turkey was removed from the F-35 joint strike fighter program because the U.S. and NATO were concerned that operating a high-tech Russian radar system alongside the F-35 would allow Moscow to harvest intelligence on the jet's advanced stealth capabilities.

Congress later passed laws banning F-35 sales to Turkey unless the administration could certify that Turkey no longer possesses the S-400. However, the administration has been looking for a workaround to make the deal possible. The most plausible proposal includes Turkey handing over its S-400 missile systems to a neutral third-party country so they are no longer in Turkish possession, a concern the reporter sought to get an answer from the President about. 

Trump also said that he will be waiving sanctions on Turkey to allow the F-25 deal to progress. The administration's stance has, however, placed the President under more criticism from U.S. lawmakers. A bipartisan group, led by Reps. Mike Lawler and Brad Sherman warned the White House that the deal was not in the best interests of the U.S.A. "With [Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan's continued aggression toward our greatest partners, along with his troubling defense partnerships with our adversaries, it is not in the best interest of our country to sell them F-35s," the lawmakers said in a statement.