President Donald Trump struggled with multiple questions Tuesday during a press conference during his meeting in Turkey with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
One reporter asked Trump about an ongoing controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s consideration of welcoming Turkey back into the United States’ F-35 fighter jet program. At the heart of the controversy is pushback from Republicans – and Israel – over Turkey’s possession of an advanced Russian missile system.
The reporter asked Trump whether the missile defense system – known as the S-400 missile system – would be transferred to a “third party” to address Republicans’ and Israel’s concerns.
“What does that mean?” Trump asked.
“Is [the missile system] going to be handed over to a third party?” the reporter clarified. “Is that not part of the deal?”
Trump appeared not to grasp the reporter’s question.
“Third... third party? What is the third... with respect to what?” Trump asked.
“There are concerns about the Russian missile defense system, do you have those concerns about this system?” the reporter asked.
Trump, potentially having understood the reporter’s question, declared he had “no concerns at all about anything.”
In another moment, a presumably Turkish reporter asked Erdoğan a question, only for Trump to ask for clarification as to who it was directed toward.
“Is that for me? Are you asking me? Or are you asking the president?” Trump asked.
“No, the president, I don't think you,” the reporter could be heard saying.
a confused Trump has difficulty understanding a question from a reporter:
Q: There are concerns about the Russian missile defense system. Do you have those concerns about this system?
TRUMP: I have no concerns about anything pic.twitter.com/HtuaeLp7WH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 7, 2026
