Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner weighs political future as backers pull support
NBC News Clone summarizes the latest on: Trump Nato Summit Turkey Live Updates Rcna353169 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone. This article is rewritten and presented in a simplified tone for a better reader experience.
President Donald Trump is attending the NATO summit in Turkey, where leaders are discussing members’ defense spending, support for Ukraine and the Iran war.
What to know today
- PLATNER LOSES BERNIE: Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner has now lost one of his earliest and most vocal endorsers, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., after a new allegation of sexual assault, which Platner denies. Other prominent Democratic backers have withdrawn their support, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., today and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a statement yesterday.
- CAMPAIGN ADS PAUSED: Platner’s Senate campaign has paused all of its ads on Facebook and Instagram, according to Meta’s archive. Platner said yesterday that his campaign was considering the best path forward.
- NATO SUMMIT: President Donald Trump is in Ankara, Turkey, today for a two-day summit with NATO leaders who worry that his resentment over their loyalty and military spending will fracture the alliance.
- McCONNELL UPDATE: Republican leaders say they have spoken to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., by phone as rumors about his health persist. McConnell was admitted to the hospital last month and has not been seen since.
Coverage of this live blog has ended. For the latest news, click here.
Maine Democratic Party accuses Graham Platner of meddling in the process to replace him
The Maine Democratic Party is accusing Platner of trying to meddle in the process of picking a replacement candidate if he drops out of the Senate race, a claim that Platner’s team swiftly disputed.
DOJ sends letters to all 50 states warning election officials over noncitizen voting
The Justice Department sent letters warning election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that they could face criminal prosecution over noncitizen voting, a spokesperson for the Justice Department confirmed today.
The letters, signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads up the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, give states five days to explain how they will comply with federal voter eligibility laws and how they will maintain “clean voter lists.”
“The Department sent these letters to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, asking for voluntary compliance in a timely manner with their obligations under federal law to ensure only citizens vote in federal elections," a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement.
Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, but Trump and his administration have falsely portrayed it as a widespread issue.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar and Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson are among those who said they received the letters.
The letters say state election officers "could be criminally prosecuted for aiding and abetting" noncitizen voting. They further specify that any election officer who knowingly retains noncitizens on a statewide voting registration list or who facilitates noncitizens' receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability.
"An intentional act that is aimed at diluting the votes of citizens could also constitute a violation" of federal law, the letters said.
Henderson wrote on social media that the threats constitute “truly bizarre behavior.”
“Got another love letter this morning from the DOJ sprinkled throughout with threats of criminal prosecution," she wrote. "I’m sure I’m not the only chief election officer of a state who is being targeted for following state and federal laws by resisting DOJ’s demands for private voter data that have thus far been ruled illegal by at least a dozen courts."
The letters are the latest play by the Justice Department in its campaign against state election officials. While some states have complied with its orders that they hand over voter roll data, the Justice Department has sued 30 states and Washington, D.C., for resisting. So far, 11 different federal courts have dismissed the Justice Department’s efforts to seize voter rolls.
Democrats clash over Israel and integrity in fiery Michigan Senate debate
The two remaining candidates for Michigan’s Democratic Senate nomination confronted each other here tonight in a combative debate that focused heavily on Israel policy, personal integrity and the future of their party.
Senate Intelligence Committee sets new confirmation hearing date for Jay Clayton
The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a new date for Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing to be director of national intelligence.
Clayton's hearing was originally scheduled for June 17, but the Senate delayed it after Trump unexpectedly announced that morning that he was canceling it.
Democrats have said their support for reauthorizing an expired part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act depends in part on Clayton's taking over as head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The post is being held on a temporary basis by Trump appointee Bill Pulte.
Maryland lawmakers to meet in August for special session on redistricting
Maryland lawmakers will meet for a special session next month to consider a constitutional amendment to deal with future congressional redistricting, legislative leaders announced today, following a failed effort this year to redraw the state’s maps to boost Democrats.
The move is the latest in the national battle over partisan redistricting, which has reshaped the U.S. House map ahead of this year’s midterms and in states, including Maryland, and could carry into the 2028 election cycle.
The Democratic-led General Assembly will meet beginning Aug. 3, legislative leaders said, to consider sending a constitutional amendment to voters this November intended to help clear the way later for a potential 8-0 congressional map. Democrats already hold a 7-1 advantage in the state’s U.S. House delegation; Rep. Andy Harris is the only GOP member.
Rep. Debbie Dingell says Platner should drop out after previously calling it a 'complicated situation'
In a major shift from her comments yesterday, Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell is now calling on Platner to end his campaign in the Maine Senate race.
"I do think that he should drop out," Dingell, D-Mich., said this afternoon in an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press NOW."
"I've been very clear I'm not a voter in Maine — I'm a voter in Michigan — but I had very serious concerns in May," she added. "And when someone's had a pattern, which this has been, people need to listen, and, you know, I said to people I didn't sleep last night, ’cause I keep thinking we're making progress. But why, again, did everybody give a hard time to their survivors who talked about what happened to them?"
The remarks are a notable change from yesterday, when Dingell told CNN that it was "a very complicated situation."
She defended those comments today, saying she has been "yelled at" over her concerns about Platner.
"Some of the people that, quite frankly, yelled at me for saying what I said have now said he should step aside. And I think we need to take a long, hard look at why it took two months to get to where we are today," Dingell said today.
Platner has lost all of his endorsements in the Senate.
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from subpoenaing Georgia election workers' names
A federal judge in Georgia has blocked the Trump administration from subpoenaing the names and identifying information of election workers in Fulton County.
“The DOJ argues that it has a legitimate interest in investigating potential criminal actions in the years that followed the 2020 Election, including an alleged failure on the part of Fulton County to preserve its ballot images from 2020 for the time required by law,” U.S. District Judge William Ray wrote.
Ray said that the Justice Department "is engaged in an 'arbitrary fishing expedition'" and that the subpoena "is unreasonable and must be quashed."
Ray wrote that “an investigation of alleged criminal conduct of anyone that may have led to the certification of the 2020 Election in Georgia would not be a legitimate use of the Grand Jury and its subpoena power, in that no valid indictment could issue from said Grand Jury due to the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations.”
“These records, even if they lead to the DOJ finding individuals who worked for Fulton County in the 2020 Election who support the theory that the 2020 Election was not fair, would not lead to information that could be used to charge anyone with anything, at least not any viable charge,” he wrote.
“Everyone, whether you support the President or you do not, or whether you believe the 2020 Election was fair or believe that it was not, should be concerned about the DOJ’s ability to utilize the power of the Grand Jury to appropriate your private information without a legitimate purpose.”
Robb Pitts, chairman of Fulton County's Board of Commissioners, said in a statement after the ruling that for months the county "has challenged the baseless allegations of fraud in Georgia’s handling of the 2020 election."
"Fulton County will continue to do all that is needed to assure Georgia citizens that our election process is fair and proper and to show that the attacks against it are baseless," Pitts said.
U.S. launches new attacks on Iran in retaliation for attacks on commercial ships, U.S. military says
Commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, in June. Amirhosein Khorgooi / AP file
The U.S. military launched new attacks on Iran today in retaliation for its attacks against commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said on X.
“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” CENTCOM said. “The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”
U.S. and Iranian officials have been negotiating about maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil passed before the war. Iran has argued that it has a right to charge fees for ships passing through the strait.
Now that DOGE is done, are the lawsuits done, too?
Following the expiration of the Department of Government Efficiency, federal judges overseeing DOGE cases are now asking whether those proceedings are unnecessary.
In a lawsuit brought by several states against DOGE, U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas wrote in an order today, “By July 21, 2026, the parties shall each submit a letter to the Court stating whether, in light of the apparent dissolution of DOGE, there are any live issues remaining in this case, or whether some or all of Plaintiffs’ claims for declaratory and injunctive relief are now moot.”
Trump last year signed an executive order creating DOGE while setting its expiration date for July 4, 2026.
Since DOGE was created on Jan. 20, 2025, more than two dozen lawsuits have been filed related to the legality of its existence, its handling of personal and sensitive information and its massive reduction of the federal workforce.
Maine Democrats jockey to replace Graham Platner as he faces pressure to drop out
Graham Platner at a town hall event in York, Maine, in April. Sofia Aldinio for NBC News
Graham Platner hasn’t officially dropped out of the Maine Senate race, but the jockeying has already begun among Democrats to replace him as the nominee.
Bernie Sanders-aligned group backs Troy Jackson to replace Platner
The Bernie Sanders-aligned group Our Revolution said today it is backing former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson to replace Platner on the U.S. Senate ballot should he withdraw his candidacy.
“This is not the Democratic establishment’s opening to handpick a replacement,” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement.
“Our Revolution is putting our full organizing machine behind Troy Jackson, starting today. The people who won this primary will decide what comes next, not the party insiders who lost it,” he added.
Jackson ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination this year and had been endorsed by Sanders. He lost to Hannah Pingree, a former state House speaker. Today, he formed an exploratory committee in the Senate race.
Jackson has appeared with Platner at campaign events and touts similar policies to his. He called on Platner to withdraw yesterday on X.
Mainers urge Platner to drop Senate bid: 'Nice try, buddy, but get out'
NBC News spoke with voters in Portland, Maine, who urged Platner to end his candidacy for the Senate as he faces a new allegation of sexual assault.
Lee Van Dyke, a Democratic voter who has lived in Maine for eight years, said Platner “should have been vetted far more thoroughly.”
“I would tell him: Nice try, buddy, but get out. You’re carrying too much baggage. You’re going to cost the election with your own peccadillos,” added Van Dyke, who said he voted for Gov. Janet Mills in the Senate primary.
Georgi McCauley, who moved to Maine in 2024, called the allegations against Platner “such a shame,” because “there’s so much about his politics that I love.”
“I’m really tired of politicians having these really ugly backgrounds that give us reason to not trust them, so it’s really disappointing,” she said.
Asked whether Platner should drop out of the race, McCauley said she isn’t sure. “I’m concerned about Susan Collins staying in that role, but obviously I’m concerned about having a sexual predator in that role,” she said. “It’s kind of a lose-lose.”
Janice Rice, an independent voter, called both options in the general election “really scary.”
“We’ve got one person that I’m afraid, because he doesn’t seem to be for women, and then the other, the lady that’s running, she’s been in there a long time and ... I think it’s just time for new blood,” she said.
Kendall Hinkley, a Platner supporter, said she’s “feeling pretty disheartened,” because “what Graham stood for and stands for is something that obviously resonated with a lot of people.”
“I am wondering why there aren’t more people like that and willing to fight like him that maybe don’t have a background of risky business with exes and things like that,” Hinkley said. “I think that the real subject matter at hand is, you know, not letting the rich get richer and keep the power in their hands.”
Who's attending tonight's NATO leaders' dinner
U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today in Ankara. Mehmet Ali Ozcan / Anadolu via Getty Images
Some of the notable guests at the NATO leaders' dinner with Trump tonight in Turkey are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump and Meloni feuded last month after the Group of Seven summit in France. Trump suggested she “begged” him for a photo at the event, but she said it was “totally fabricated.”
Other guests tonight, according to the White House, include NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever is also there after his country's soccer team beat the U.S. in a World Cup match last night.
Who could replace Graham Platner as Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee?
Platner has said he is weighing whether to continue his campaign after an explosive sexual assault allegation reported by Politico and CNN yesterday. But Democrats are already considering more than a half-dozen potential replacements in the pivotal battleground.
Those candidates include Platner’s onetime rivals, current and former state lawmakers and even the party’s 2020 Senate nominee, among others.
Thune, Barrasso and Scott Jennings say they've spoken to McConnell
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and former McConnell adviser Scott Jennings have spoken to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., over the last day as he remains in the hospital.
Thune spoke to McConnell by phone yesterday, a spokesperson for Thune said today, adding that they had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.
Barrasso spokesperson Kate Noyes said in a statement today that her boss and McConnell had a 20-minute phone call his afternoon.
"They caught up about the latest news impacting Senate races, the Graham Platner scandal, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on coordinated spending limits," Noyes said. "They also discussed the Senate’s July work period, including the need to pass the NDAA and confirm President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence. Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.”
Jennings wrote on X that he spoke to McConnell this morning. "We talked for just shy of 20 minutes ... about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible."
McConnell’s office has provided few details about his hospitalization, which began June 14. He has remained in the hospital, and his team has not said why or described his condition.
According to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News, paramedics conducted CPR on a person experiencing “cardiac arrest” at a known address for McConnell on the day his office disclosed he had been hospitalized.
With Sanders dropping his endorsements, Platner has no more Senate backers
Sanders' late withdrawal of his endorsement of Platner means that all of the senators who backed the Maine candidate for Senate previously have now said he should step aside. Here's what those former backers and other Democrats in the Senate had to say after the new allegation of sexual assault, which Platner denies.
Statements from former backers
- Sanders: "I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
- Schumer: “The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing — violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable. Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
- Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: “Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault. Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
- Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.: “I endorsed Graham Platner because I believed he would fight for working people and stand up to a system that too often protects the powerful. The allegations reported today are appalling. If accurate, they reveal conduct that is completely unacceptable and incompatible with the integrity we should demand from those seeking public office. I can no longer support Graham Platner’s candidacy. He should step aside.”
- Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.: “The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement.”
- Ed Markey, D-Mass.: “The allegations reported against Graham Platner are deeply disturbing and must be taken seriously. I cannot support his candidacy.”
- Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.: “These allegations are serious and cannot be ignored. Graham Platner should step aside. We must fight to elect candidates who support working Americans and are willing to take on the billionaire class in order to deliver on people’s desire for fundamental change.”
Statements from other Democratic senators
- Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.: “Credible allegations of physical or sexual violence against women, with independent corroboration, can’t be ignored — whether it’s a Democrat or Republican, a private citizen or a senior leader, like the President of the United States. Mr. Platner has denied the allegations, and he has the right to defend himself — but at a certain point every leader has to decide what’s best for the people he hopes to represent. He should do the right thing, drop out quickly, and give Maine Democrats the opportunity to select a new nominee who can compete and win in November.”
- Adam Schiff, D-Calif.: “These new allegations against Graham Platner are deeply troubling, and I commend the courage of the woman who has come forward to tell her story. I urge Mr. Platner to consider what is best for Maine voters, and announce an end to his campaign.”
- Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.: "The allegations reported today are deeply disturbing. Character and accountability matter regardless of party. It’s time for Graham Platner to drop out and allow for someone else to be nominated and give Democrats the best chance to win this seat in November.”
- Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.: “Mr. Platner should withdraw his candidacy for the Senate.”
- Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.: “Thank you to the women who have been brave enough to use their voices and come forward. Graham Platner should step aside so that another candidate can represent Democrats in this critical race.”
- Sen Cory Booker, D-N.J.: “Enough is enough. graham platner needs to step aside.”
Progressives in Michigan join forces in key House battleground and crucial Senate race
Congressional candidate William Lawrence and Senate contender Abdul El-Sayed cross-endorsed each other today, as progressives look to be the Democratic Party’s standard bearers in two of the most important races in Michigan this year.
Trump arrives at NATO leaders' dinner
Trump was greeted by Erdoğan and the Turkish president's wife outside of the dinner being held for NATO leaders.
The dinner caps off the first day of Trump's trip to Turkey for the summit.
Maine politician Troy Jackson files paperwork for Senate exploratory committee
Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson appears to be eyeing a bid for the Democratic nomination if Platner withdraws his candidacy.
Paperwork for the Troy Jackson Senate Exploratory Committee was filed with the Federal Election Commission, which could indicate Jackson gearing up for a run.
The filing was signed by the group's treasurer earlier today.
Jackson is one of the names being floated as a potential replacement for Platner if he withdraws from the race. Jackson previously made an unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic nominee in the state's governor's race.
Platner campaign pauses Facebook and Instagram ads
Within the last 90 minutes or so, Graham Platner’s Senate campaign has paused all of its ads on Facebook and Instagram, according to Meta’s archive.
Last night, the campaign had 10 ads running on the platforms and earlier this morning, there were 7, but now they’ve all been paused.
The Democratic nominee is facing significant pressure to drop out of the Senate race after a new allegation of sexual assault, which he denies. He said yesterday that his campaign was considering the best path forward.
NBC News has reached out to Platner's campaign for comment on the pause in ads.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says Platner should withdraw 'as soon as possible'
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., told NBC News while at the NATO summit that she believes Platner "needs to get out of the race," adding that he should leave "as soon as possible."
Asked what would happen for Maine Democrats if Platner were to withdraw his candidacy, Shaheen said that "there's an opportunity to fill that seat."
"We saw that the governor had stepped up earlier," she said, referring to Janet Mills' candidacy. "I think there are other potential candidates, and the sooner that he gets out, the sooner we can fill the seat."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also weighed in, telling reporters that he believes "it's time for him to drop out of the race."
Sanders says he has advised Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race
Sanders, one of the most prominent supporters of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine, said in a statement this afternoon that he has advised him to drop out of the Senate race.
“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside,” Sanders said.
Platner has previously told NBC News he wanted to run to carry on the legacy and movement of Sanders.
The Senate candidate has faced a groundswell of Democratic officials calling on him to withdraw from the key Senate race after a new allegation that Platner sexually assaulted a then-girlfriend in 2021, which Platner denies.
Jenny Racicot, 41, of Maine, is accusing Platner of showing up at her home unannounced in 2021 while drunk. She told Politico and CNN, which both published and aired their reports yesterday, that Platner forced himself on her and did not respect her demands for him to stop.
Platner released a video message yesterday denying the report, calling Racicot’s account “categorically false" and said his campaign was considering the "best path forward."
Calls grow for Graham Platner to quit race over new allegation
A growing number of prominent Democrats are calling on Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner to drop out of the race following a new sexual assault allegation. The claim comes from a former romantic partner who shared details of an incident from five years ago. Platner has explicitly denied the allegations. NBC’s Ryan Nobles reports for "Today."
‘Overturn this’: Trump intervention casts a shadow over World Cup as U.S. crashes out
LONDON — Justice well and truly served. That was the verdict of Belgium’s victorious stars — and many in Europe — after the United States was unceremoniously dumped from the World Cup.
Trump says U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey
Trump told reporters during a press availability at the top of his bilateral meeting with Erdogan that the U.S. would remove sanctions on Turkey.
"We don’t want to sanction friends," Trump said. "It’s very simple. There’s plenty of people we can sanction, and we are sanctioning. We don’t want to sanction friends."
The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Turkey after the country obtained a Russian air defense system. The sanctions targeted Turkey's main defense procurement agency.
Trump also told reporters that he was considering letting the U.S. sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Trump previously excluded Turkey from the program after Turkey bought the Russian air defense system.
Trump speaks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential palace in Ankara today. Emrah Gurel / Pool via Getty Images
Trump again says the U.S. should control Greenland
In remarks to reporters, Trump reiterated his view that the U.S. should take control of Greenland.
"It should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump said, adding a complaint about Europe's opposition to the move. "And when they wouldn't go along with it, and with all the money we spend to help them with Russia, and we don't have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because, as you probably noticed, Europe's a very different place than it was 20 years ago."
The president has repeatedly floated the idea of taking Greenland, an autonomous territory owned by Denmark, which has consistently dismissed Trump's remarks.
The U.S. has considered purchasing Greenland at least twice, including in 1867 and then in 1946, when President Harry S. Truman proposed buying it for $100 million. Denmark rejected the offer.
Trump says Meloni 'just wasn't there for us'
Answering questions from reporters, Trump said he thinks Meloni is a "nice person," but added that their relationship became "a little bad because she refused to help us," referring to Italy not getting further involved with efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"She just wasn't there for us, and I wasn't happy about that," he said. "You can imagine, I wasn't happy about that."
Days ago, Trump posted a picture of himself and Meloni with the caption "restraining order needed," a reference to his earlier comments that Meloni "begged" him for a photo during the Group of Seven summit of leading industrialized nations last month.
Meloni responded at the time, saying, "I and Italy never beg."
Trump repeats his optimism that Ukraine and Russia could reach a deal to end their war
Trump reiterated that he thinks Ukraine and Russia want to reach an agreement that would end their conflict.
"I think they both want to make a deal," he told reporters.
The president repeated that he had positive calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days.
"They both want to get it settled now more than — that's all I do in my life is deals — and I think they are going to, I think we're going to get it settled, hopefully soon," Trump said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomes Trump at the presidential complex in Ankara today. Murat Kula / Anadolu via Getty Images
Trump says he's been 'very disappointed' with NATO at alliance summit
Trump said during a press availability with Erdoğan that he's been "very disappointed" with NATO as he attends the alliance summit in Ankara.
"If it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended," Trump said when asked if he’s considering a drawdown of U.S. troops from Europe, which the president didn’t answer. "I thought I had to attend because of the fact that, you know, I know he's gone all out," he said.
Trump then complained about NATO not assisting the U.S. with operations against Iran.
"We weren't treated well because we did something in Iran," Trump said. "We don't need anybody's help. I didn't even want the help. ... They said they wouldn't be there, and we've invested trillions of dollars in NATO. Why? To protect European countries and others, Canada, etc., but to protect people, countries from, generally speaking, it used to be the Soviet Union, now it's Russia, and I say that's fine, but you would think that they'd be very willing to do something to help us, and they really weren't."
Trump says the U.S. will consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey
Trump told reporters that he and Erdoğan would discuss trade and military issues. He also expressed openness to the U.S. resuming sales of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
Trump was asked by a reporter whether the U.S. would sell F-35s to Turkey. During his first term, Trump excluded Turkey from the fighter jet program after Turkey bought an air defense system from Russia.
Trump said that the F-35 issue was "a decision we're going to make," adding that "we have a very good relationship."
"We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal, so something that we would consider," Trump said, going on to praise the F-35 jets.
"It's certainly something we will consider," he added.
State arrival ceremony for Trump kicks off
Trump has arrived at the state ceremony honoring the start of his visit to Turkey.
Erdoğan greeted the president as the president's limousine pulled up before an unfurled blue carpet, which was flanked by men in uniform. Uniformed men on horses escorted Trump's vehicle.
Erdoğan welcomes Trump at the Presidential Complex in Ankara today. Mehmet Ali Ozcan / Anadolu via Getty Images
The two leaders shook hands before listening to a band perform the U.S. national anthem as Trump saluted.
They then chatted as they proceeded down the long blue carpet toward the presidential compound, pausing to face cameras and shake hands before going inside.
Trump set to meet with Belgian leaders after U.S. loses to Belgium in World Cup
Trump is set to meet with Belgian leaders today after the U.S. men’s national soccer team lost to Belgium last night in the World Cup. Trump inserted himself into the match by asking FIFA to look into its ban against U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
The U.S. fell to Belgium 4-1, eliminating it from the tournament.
Trump acknowledged yesterday that he asked FIFA to review a controversial red card suspension that Balogun was given during the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week.
The red card would have prevented Balogun from competing in last night's match. But after Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the suspension, FIFA reversed its decision and allowed him to complete. Belgian officials unsuccessfully appealed the reversal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the reversal yesterday and joked that the episode had become an international incident, saying, “Maybe we’ll bring it up at NATO tomorrow when we’re there with the Belgians and everybody else.”
Italy will no longer respond to Trump's provocations, foreign minister says
Italy will stop responding to Trump’s provocative remarks, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published this morning.
Trump “speaks for himself. We have a U.S. President who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies,” Tajani told La Stampa newspaper in Italy.
“We are and will remain friends of the United States as our strategic partner and that of Europe,” Tajani added.
The comments come as Trump is set to appear alongside Prime Minister Meloni for the first time since last month, when he claimed that she “begged” him for a photo and she called his claim “completely fabricated.”
Trump escalated the feud Sunday on Truth Social, posting a photo of Meloni smiling up at him with text reading “restraining order needed.”
Italy’s Il Foglio newspaper headlined its front page today mocking that post, publishing a picture of Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin, under the same caption "restraining order needed."
What topics could be discussed during the summit?
NATO chief Mark Rutte laid out his major priorities for the summit last month —chiefly, increasing defense spending and affirming support for Ukraine. In remarks yesterday, he urged members to firm up plans to reach their spending targets. Trump has pushed NATO countries to spend 5 % of their GDPs by 2035.
Trump is expected to sit down with Zelenskyy during his trip.
The U.S. war with Iran is also likely to be a major point of discussion.
Erdoğan meets Trump as he deplanes
Erdoğan greeted Trump as he exited Air Force One, with the two leaders shaking hands and chatting.
Trump was also being met by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, the White House said.
An apparent honor guard with rifles stood to the sides as the two leaders walked together down a long blue carpet that was laid out at the bottom of the plane’s steps.
Trump lands in Turkey for NATO summit
Trump has landed in Ankara, Turkey, kicking off his NATO summit trip.
Later today, he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Trump will also participate in a NATO leaders' dinner tonight.
Trump says he had a 'good call' with Putin about the war
Trump told reporters yesterday that he had a “good call” with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before and that both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy want to end the war in Ukraine.
“We’re going to be going to NATO, and we’re going to be talking about it, and we, I think we’re going to get it, I think we’re going to get it ended,” he said.
Trump to meet with NATO leaders with his commitment to the 77-year-old alliance in doubt
Trump is set to arrive in Turkey today for a summit meeting with NATO leaders who are worried that his resentment over their loyalty and military spending will fracture the alliance.
Trump will spend only about a day and a half in the company of NATO allies after having made it clear he might have boycotted the summit altogether had the host not been someone he admires, Turkey’s longtime president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump set to appear alongside Italian PM Meloni amid rift
Trump is set to appear alongside Meloni for the first time since last month, when he claimed that she "begged" him for a photo with him. In response, she called his claim "completely fabricated" and questioned why "the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies."
Trump escalated the feud Sunday on Truth Social, posting a photo of Meloni smiling up at him with text reading “restraining order needed.”
NATO unveils billions in arms deals to prove its firepower to Trump
NATO this morning showcased a series of military projects worth billions of dollars in an attempt to convince Trump that U.S. allies are converting fresh defense spending into real firepower.
“It’s money well spent,” an energized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told government ministers and defense industry officials on the sidelines of a summit in Turkey. He was speaking at a defense industry forum billed as NATO’s “big reveal,” to the thrum of techno music and a slick video display.
NATO as an organization does not own any weapons — these are the property of the 32 member countries — but it does have a fleet of 14 AWACS early warning radar surveillance planes that are about 50 years old, along with some newer surveillance drones.
A deal to replace the aging planes was announced this morning.
Representatives from 15 nations shook hands and patted shoulders on a vast podium under the NATO logo as they announced a multinational effort to buy air-to-air refueling and transport planes from Airbus. Then Rutte announced a four-country effort to purchase as many as five new Triton surveillance drones to add to NATO’s small fleet.
“It is genuinely made in NATO, and creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said. However no dollar figures were given and the display included some projects long since agreed.
Ukraine launches more than 400 drones toward Moscow ahead of NATO summit
Ukraine launched more than 400 drones at the Moscow region overnight, the Russian capital's mayor said, a day after more than two dozen people were killed by Russian attacks on the Kyiv region.
A total of 36 drones were destroyed as they were approaching the Russian capital, which has a population of 13 million, Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram.
The two sides have exchanged intensifying attacks in recent weeks, with the Kremlin stepping up assaults on Kyiv as Ukrainian attacks force a mounting crisis at home.
At least 28 people were killed in Russian bombardment of the Kyiv region yesterday, local officials said.
Trump set to meet with NATO leaders in Turkey
Trump is set to meet with NATO leaders in Turkey today against a backdrop of mounting U.S. pressure on European allies to ramp up spending on defense.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month said it was “shameful” that NATO countries would not provide access to bases on the continent for the U.S. to launch attacks on Iran.
Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe, pressuring the countries to take a greater lead in defense spending.
