Opinion: Does Trump Prefer Erdoğan to Netanyahu?

Ahead of the July 7 NATO Summit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged U.S. President Donald Trump to address Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's escalating anti-Israel rhetoric, including Erdoğan's description of Zionism as a "genocidal" ideology. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also called Israel "a burden that humanity can no longer bear" and advocated for sanctions, which Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar termed "a clear call for genocide." However, when questioned about Erdoğan's remarks, Trump praised him, stating, "As you know, he’s a very good friend of mine, and we’ve worked very well together. I like him a lot." This response, coupled with Erdoğan's alleged assistance to Iran in evading U.S. sanctions and opposition to regime change efforts, suggests a growing divergence between Trump and Netanyahu, with Trump seemingly prioritizing his relationship with Erdoğan despite the latter's threats against Israel.