President Trump has spoken out in support of the American pastor who has been jailed in Turkey on espionage and terrorism-related charges. The president praised Pastor Andrew Brunson on Thursday, calling the pastor “a great patriot hostage.” Trump said the U.S. would “pay nothing for the release of an innocent man.”
Trump condemned the Turkish government in a tweet for taking “advantage” of the U.S. and added that while the administration would not pay for the pastor’s release, the U.S. is “cutting back on Turkey.”
“Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!”
Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018
The president is likely referring to an increase in tariffs and sanctions that was authorized last week. Following these, the Turkish economy took a slide.
“I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%,” Trump tweeted Friday. “Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”
The Trump administration has threatened more sanctions if Turkey does not release Brunson.
The pastor has been detained in Turkey for 21 months on “terrorism” charges. He is suspected of having ties to the outlawed Gulenist movement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded the U.S. extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who denies Turkish allegations that he engineered a failed 2016 coup.
U.S. State Department representatives have indicated the claims against Brunson are not credible. The pastor faces a prison sentence of up to 35 years if convicted.
National Security Adviser John Bolton spoke Monday with the Turkish ambassador to the United States and told him to release Brunson, U.S. officials said. The administration has threatened more sanctions if Turkey does not comply with the U.S. demand.
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