U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an event to sign executive orders on "transparency in federal guidance and enforcement" in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would devastate Turkey’s economy if Ankara’s incursion in Syria wipes out the Kurdish population there.

Asked by a reporter if he was concerned Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will wipe out the Kurds, Trump replied: “I will wipe out his economy if that happens.”

“I’ve already done it once with Pastor Brunson,” Trump said referring to U.S. sanctions slapped on Turkey over the detention of an American. “I hope that he will act rationally,” he said.