Trump upset as Netanyahu criticizes Turkey F-35 sale

President Donald Trump was angered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public criticism of a proposed U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, according to officials, contributing to a diplomatic rift that led to the cancellation of a planned meeting between the two leaders. The tension emerged as Netanyahu sought a White House visit for more than two weeks, but no meeting was ever formally scheduled.

The dispute centers on comments Netanyahu made during a Fox News interview shortly before Trump traveled to Ankara for a NATO summit on July 7 and 8. Trump had signaled a willingness to lift sanctions on Türkiye and explore selling it F-35 jets, a significant shift in policy toward President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom Trump views as a close ally. Two White House officials said Trump was upset by Netanyahu's intervention, with one stating the president felt Netanyahu had "no right" to weigh in on the issue.

Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after it purchased Russia's S-400 missile defense system, a move that also triggered U.S. sanctions. Washington argued the Russian system could compromise the stealth jets and was incompatible with NATO...