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Trump calls Erdogan “Tough” and jokes about rigged elections

1 min Mena Today

U.S. President Donald Trump raised eyebrows Thursday as he welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Oval Office, joking that his guest “knows more than anyone about rigged elections.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan © Mena Today 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan © Mena Today 

U.S. President Donald Trump raised eyebrows Thursday as he welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Oval Office, joking that his guest “knows more than anyone about rigged elections.”

Calling Erdogan “a tough man with strong ideas,” Trump added, “Usually I don’t like people with strong ideas, but I always appreciate this one.” 

Erdogan has ruled Turkey since 2014, during a period marked by widespread crackdowns on opposition figures, including the March arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and presidential rival Ekrem Imamoglu.

By Sylvia Hukuret

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