Talkin’ Turkey over helping out with ISIS

PRESIDENT TRUMP welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House on Tuesday, where the two leaders pledged to work together to fight ISIS and help find a resolution to the Syrian conflict — and sidestepped recent disputes.

In brief joint remarks given by Trump and Erdogan (photo), the President, focused almost entirely on relations with Turkey, saying the two men would “have long and hard discussions.”

Trump repeatedly mispronounced the Turkish leader’s last name, but nevertheless said their talks would “be very successful.”

“We’ve had a great relationship, and we will make it even better,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. “supports Turkey in the fight against terror” and that the White House also “appreciates Turkey’s leadership” regarding the Syrian crisis.

Erdogan, during his own comments pledged to work together with Trump on those issues, expressed a desire to expand trade, and also offered his congratulations on “the legendary triumphs (Trump) has garnered in the aftermath of the election.”

Their meeting, however, comes amid deeply strained relations between the U.S. and Turkey.

Last week, the U.S. made a decision to arm Kurdish militias in Syria to fight ISIS, against the explicit wishes of the Turkish government. Erdogan even dispatched a military delegation to Washington to try to persuade the White House against the idea — arguing that such an effort supports separatist terrorists in his country — but was told the decision had already been made.

After the meeting, Erdogan’s security detail were caught on camera in a violent clash with protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s Washington residence.

Nine people were hurt and two arrests were made by police, authorities said.

In addition, Erdogan has made an aggressive case for Trump to extradite a 76-year-old cleric in the Poconos, who the Turkish government says helped plan the failed coup in Turkey last summer.

The exiled cleric, Fethullah Gulen, has condemned the coup and denies planning it, though Erdogan has purged thousands of suspected Gulen followers from positions such as judgeships since July.