President Trump phoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to congratulate him on winning a referendum that will grant the foreign leader broader powers, Erdoğan’s office said Monday.
Turkey said in a press release that Trump offered Erdoğan his congratulations and also thanked him for supporting the recent U.S. airstrike against the regime of Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Both agreed that Assad should be held responsible for his actions and called for cooperation against terror groups.
News of the call comes as opposition groups in Turkey have contested the results of the referendum.
The referendum would institute constitutional reforms, including giving Erdoğan broader powers to appoint ministers and judges. It would also reportedly eliminate the country’s office of prime minister.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said during his daily briefing the administration is waiting on the results of a report on the fairness of the referendum vote.
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JUST IN: Trump congratulates Turkey's president on referendum giving him more power: report https://t.co/YShNKgBm3F pic.twitter.com/Udkx4DqylZ
— The Hill (@thehill) April 17, 2017
White House confirms Trump called Erdogan “to congratulate him on his recent referendum victory” pic.twitter.com/zQ3xZdr54u
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 18, 2017
Thank you Prime Minister Erdogan for joining us yesterday to celebrate the launch of #TrumpTowers Istanbul!
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) April 20, 2012
"Conservative media" would explode if Democrat president called to congratulate Erdogan, and his daughter thanked him for business venture.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) April 18, 2017
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