Trump says Turkish president gets 'very high marks'

President Donald Trump on Thursday said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “getting very high marks,” despite his increasingly autocratic behavior.

“It’s a great honor and privilege — because he’s become a friend of mine — to introduce President Erdogan of Turkey,” Trump told reporters. “He’s running a very difficult part of the world. He’s involved very, very strongly and, frankly, he’s getting very high marks.”


Erdogan, who spoke through a translator ahead of his meeting with Trump at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, echoed Trump’s sentiment, calling the American president “my dear friend, Donald.”

The cozy rhetoric between the two comes after Erdogan’s trip to Washington earlier this year. Video published by VOA Turkish appeared to show Erdogan watching a violent clash between Turkish security officials and protesters outside the Turkish Embassy in May.

Nineteen people were indicted on charges of attacking protesters outside the embassy. The Associated Press reported that 15 of the people facing formal charges are Turkish security officials

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The White House never addressed the incident, but the State Department condemned the assault, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying “this is simply unacceptable.”

Erdogan had said he spoke with Trump earlier this month about the clash, remarking in a television interview that Trump had conveyed his sadness.

Trump didn’t directly answer shouted questions Thursday, one of which included his message regarding violence against peaceful protesters.

“We’ll be discussing many issues,” he replied. “Many issues.”