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Lawmakers Urge Trump Admin to Block Turkey From Acquiring Advanced US Fighter Jets
US President Donald Trump and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands as they meet at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Sept. 25, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to halt any plans to advance negotiations with Turkey, a NATO ally, over acquiring advanced US fighter jets, warning that doing so without congressional approval would violate federal law and undermine national security.
The message came as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss a range of issues, including the potential sale of F-35s to Ankara.
In a letter sent on Thursday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, 20 members of the US Congress raised alarm bells over reports that the administration is exploring “a major F-16 deal” with Ankara and seeking to “conclude positively” ongoing talks about the F-35 program. In August, a bipartisan group of 40 lawmakers requested that Rubio prevent Turkey from joining the F-35 program.
“Proceeding with such a sale without fulfilling the statutory certification requirements would violate US law, jeopardize national security, and strain relations with key allies,” the lawmakers wrote in Thursday’s letter.
At the center of the dispute is Turkey’s purchase and continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, which US officials argue poses a direct threat to the stealth capabilities of both the F-16 and F-35. The Trump administration expelled Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 and imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Congress later codified restrictions through Section 1245 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which prohibits any transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless the State and Defense departments certify that Ankara has removed the S-400 and pledged not to purchase similar Russian systems in the future. Lawmakers said no such certification has been provided.
“Any sale or transfer of F-35 aircraft or related systems in the absence of this certification would therefore constitute a clear violation of US law,” the letter stated. The members also warned against potential workarounds, such as transferring the jets to non-sanctioned Turkish entities, saying such moves would “blatantly defy congressional intent.”
Trump addressed the issue during his meeting with Erdogan. Asked whether he was willing to make a deal to sell F-35s to Turkey, Trump told reporters: “I think he’ll be successful in buying the things that he wants to buy.” The US president went on to say that he could lift sanctions against Turkey “very soon,” adding that “if we have a good meeting, almost immediately.”
Erdogan has expressed frustration with Turkey’s suspension from the F-35 program and a keen interest in rejoining.
The US lawmakers’ letter highlighted growing frustration in Congress over Turkey’s behavior in the eastern Mediterranean, pointing to Ankara’s threats against Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Lawmakers praised US allies in the region for their cooperation with Washington while blasting Turkey for what they described as “destabilizing actions.”
“Rewarding Ankara with access to advanced US fighter systems despite this behavior would betray these partnerships and only embolden Turkey to intensify its aggression,” the lawmakers warned.
The letter, led by Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), was signed by more than a dozen Democrats and Republicans, including Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE).
The group is demanding answers from the administration by Oct. 1 on whether it has received credible assurances from Turkey regarding the removal of the S-400 system, whether it intends to submit the required certification, and whether it can commit to withholding any F-35 transfers until Congress is notified.
The State Department has said publicly that the US position on Turkey’s S-400s “has not changed” and that Washington remains committed to complying with US law.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.