Early Warning Signs of Turkey’s Troubles with Trump

 

The Republican and Democratic parties will be holding their conventions later this month to select Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, respectively, as their presidential nominees.

For loyal party members, the choice is very clear: Vote for your party’s candidate. Yet, millions of other voters have a more difficult task in making up their minds. Unhappy with both major parties, some are contemplating voting for an independent candidate, while others are considering sitting out the election altogether.

Donald Trump (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Donald Trump (Photo: Gage Skidmore)

Armenian-American voters are also uncertain about their choice. In Clinton’s case, many are highly disappointed at her failure to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide when she was secretary of state, calling it “a matter of historical debate” despite her multiple promises to recognize the genocide as a U.S. senator and presidential candidate eight years ago.

Trump is also a puzzle for most Armenian Americans. Those who are willing to ignore his controversial positions and base their vote purely on Armenian issues are not sure whether he is, in his own words, “friend or foe,” since Trump, a businessman, does not have a public record on most political issues, including Armenian ones.

It would be ideal to have a face-to-face meeting with the Republican candidate to find out first-hand where he stands on issues of interest to Armenians. However, in the absence of such an opportunity, voters have to rely on a few brief remarks he recently made on Turkey.

Last December, Trump criticized Turkey’s support for Islamist terrorists. He told Breitbart News Daily, “Turkey looks like they’re on the side of ISIS, more or less based on the oil.” He went on to say that he had a conflict of interest when talking about Turkey because of the Trump Towers in Istanbul. Although he does not own the building, he lends his name to the Turkish owners of the hotel and receives a lucrative branding fee. He has a similar arrangement with Trump International Hotel & Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan. Not to damage his business relationship, Trump quickly asserted in his interview, “I’ve gotten to know Turkey very well; they’re amazing people, they’re incredible people, they have a strong leader.”

Despite Trump’s kind words about Erdogan, the Turkish president attacked him two weeks ago, accusing him of being anti-Muslim and calling for the immediate removal of Trump’s name from the Istanbul Tower! Erdogan told a large group of Turkish businessmen that Trump “has no tolerance for Muslims living in the United States; and on top of that, they used a brand in Istanbul with his name. The ones who put that brand on their building should immediately remove it.” Erdogan also stated that he regretted attending the inauguration of Trump Towers in 2012 when he was prime minister: “I also made a mistake and opened the [Trump Towers].” The Turkish owner of the hotel announced that he was evaluating his business ties with Trump.

Bulent Kural, manager of the Trump Shopping Mall in Istanbul, was also critical of Trump: “We regret and condemn Trump’s discriminatory remarks. Such statements bear no value and are products of a mind that does not understand Islam, a peace religion. Our reaction has been directly expressed to the Trump family. We are reviewing the legal dimension of our relation with the Trump brand.”

The Republican candidate made another unscripted comment about Turkey during a speech in Denver on July 1. As he was naming several countries that are militarily defended at U.S. expense, someone from the audience shouted, “Turkey!” Trump interrupted his remarks and asked that man if he was a “friend or foe.” The Republican candidate then added: “And Turkey, by the way, should be fighting ISIS. I hope to see Turkey go out and fight ISIS, because ISIS has in a certain sense taken very serious advantages of Turkey. And they could wipe ISIS out by themselves. I would love to see that.”

It remains to be seen if Erdogan will escalate his budding feud with Donald Trump by insisting on the removal of the latter’s name from the Istanbul Towers. Not surprisingly, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has so far ignored Trump’s negative comments on Islam, preferring to protect his own business interests in the Baku Trump Tower!

Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian

California Courier Editor
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization that has donated to Armenia and Artsakh one billion dollars of humanitarian aid, mostly medicines, since 1989 (including its predecessor, the United Armenian Fund). He has been decorated by the presidents of Armenia and Artsakh and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

7 Comments

    • Sassoon, never heard back from you as to what institutions of higher learning in America offer Master’s in political science and international relations as one degree? Curious to know…

    • Bernie Sanders has shown more promise to take a more principled stand, favorable to Armenia, and the worldwide Armenian diaspora, because his political compass is measured by compassion, integrity, and the will to serve truth and justice. He showed potential to be more resistant to the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Department of State (all of whom give priority to Turkey and Azerbaijan, over and above matters that interest Armenians)

      One of Hillary Clinton’s first foreign tours included a visit to Turkey, in 2009; while in Turkey, she payed a visit to Ataturk’s Tomb. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton adopted Turkey’s genocide denial platitudes, when Congressman Adam Shiff proposed that she take a more principled stand to recognize the Armenian Genocide (in 2012). Last May, 2016, Hillary Clinton again used Turkey’s platitudes of genocide denial, when questioned about the Armenian Genocide, on the campaign trail.

      As for Donald Trump, his questionable business practices with Turkey and Azerbaijan could draw him the influence of the countries. Lending his name to the Trump Towers in Istanbul and Baku, was acceptable before he became a presidential candidate, but it creates an atmosphere of distrust, now that he has political ambitions. Perhaps, Erdogan tests Trump’s character, and ethical resolve, when he black listed Trump’s name from the Istanbul Towers, If he backs down, then Erdogan can view it as a character flaw which he can exploit, to draw Trump under the influence of Turkey’s agendas. Donald Trump must terminate his business transactions with Turkey, and the same applies to Azerbaijan; otherwise, he will be perceived as an unreliable candidate who can be manipulated for financial reasons.

  1. As far as Hillery is concerned it’s No Way Hose for me, in other words it’s crystal clear, 100℅ NOT A CHANCE.
    As for Mr. Trump, its time to have heart to heart conversation…the way I see him is, Golden opportunity for American, Canadian, European, and ALL Armenians. He is nothing like line of previous self serving, distructive candidates.

    • Just because he’s different does not mean he’s better. I’m afraid to see him in a position of power such as the presidency.

      How is Trump an opportunity for us Armenians? As has been noted here, he has businesses interests in Turkey and Azerbaijan. His primary goal in life is to make money. Turkey and Azerbaijan offer more in that area than all of us Armenians in the world.

  2. Trump has no animosity with Erdogan or Aliev. He only is interested to make money. Well, Turkey has a lot of opportunities. That is why he has his hotels running there. He is a partner with Aliev’s son and has big interest in Azerbayjan. This charlatan likes despots like Erdogan and Aliev. He will gladly negotiate with them to gain their friendship. Armenians should never trust Donald Trump. Don’t be fooled listening t o his stupid remarks. He may declare that he loves Armenians , then an hour latter he will change his mind and go with the Turks. There is lots of MONEY for him to earn in Turkey and Azerbaijan, what is there for him in Armenia?

  3. History tell us American politicians when running for president will agree with Armenian leaders to condemn the Turks for killing off their Armenian citizens, but once sworn in they go back on their promise. Political reality is Turkey is in a key location to keep the Russians bottled up in the Black sea. Also Turkey is a great place for Western businesses. That said, I exhort my fellow Armenians to keep up the pressure on these people; don’t dishearten!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*