President Donald Trump said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not get to decide what the United States sells, responding to criticism over a possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. In remarks highlighted in a video clip, Trump said, “Nobody tells me what we should be selling or not.”
The exchange centers on reported opposition from Netanyahu to a US plan involving F-35 aircraft for Turkey. Trump’s response framed the issue as a matter of American decision-making on defense sales, signaling that he does not accept outside pressure on the question.
The timing is notable because Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump on Tuesday. That planned meeting now comes with added attention on the dispute over Turkey and advanced US military equipment, an issue that touches on regional security and US relationships with both Israel and Turkey.
While the full details of any potential F-35 sale were not outlined in the available report, Trump’s comments made clear that he intends to defend his authority over such decisions. The disagreement adds another point of tension ahead of the face-to-face talks between the two leaders.
