US Senators Urge Trump To Demand Erdogan Respect Human Rights

WASHINGTON ­– On Wednesday, U.S. Senators John McCain , Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Bob Menendez , member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter to President Trump today calling on the administration to urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to stop harassing American diplomats, to respect human rights, and to uphold democratic values in Turkey.

Trump set for talks with Greek PM

When President Donald Trump sits for talks Tuesday with his left-wing Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras, he'll face a man who last year warned his own citizens that Trump represented an "evil" raft of ideas with no place in western democracy. Now that Trump is President, Tsipras finds himself among the club of world leaders hoping to paper over their election-year criticisms of the billionaire businessman, who is known to carry a grudge and remember even the smallest slight.

Fight breaks at Turkish president’s speech in Times Square

Brawl erupts during a speech by Turkish president Erdogan in Times Square after demonstrator calls him a 'terrorist' in second violent confrontation Another stateside appearance by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan broke out in violence on Thursday after a group of protesters disrupted his speech in New York. A violent brawl erupted at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square after a demonstrator shouted 'Terrorist!' as Erdogan spoke to a crowd during an event organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee.

Protesters ejected from Turkish president’s New York speech

A demonstrator who got up and shouted "Terrorist!" at Turkey's president during a speech at a hotel on Thursday was grabbed by bodyguards and rushed out of the hall as others in the emotional crowd pushed, shoved and shouted. It happened at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking to a large audience at an event organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee.

Trump team to block Erdogan gun deal

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be banned by the Trump administration from purchasing weapons from a U.S. manufacturer. The cancellation drew immediate applause from Congress, where Republican and Democratic lawmakers have demanded that Trump punish Erdogan.

Is Turkey on brink of Invading Syrian Kurds, Us BFF?

The Turkish Armed Forces are massing on the Syrian border days after a reshuffle of top brass in the country's military in anticipation of a potential invasion that could dramatically complicate Syria's ongoing civil war. Kurdish militia backed by U.S. forces are currently taking part in an assault against the Islamic State group in their Syrian stronghold Raqqa.

Why the Trump Administration cares so much about Venezuela

A woman cries during a rally where opposition supporters pay tribute to victims of violence in protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, in Caracas, Venezuela Here's a telling omen: Under orders from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the State Department is reportedly drafting a new mission statement for itself. According to Josh Rogin of the Washington Post , the drafts are nearly identical to the current mission statement, except that they remove any mention of building a "democratic world" as a U.S. foreign policy goal.

No guns to Turkey: 36 congressmen’s letter to Secretary of State

"Right here, on U.S. soil, we witnessed President Erdogan's blatant disregard for democracy as his henchmen waged a brutal attack on peaceful protestors. As the very model of freedom and liberty around the world, the United States cannot condone such an overt suppression of democracy and this proposed arms deal would be nothing less than an endorsement of Erdogan's henchmen's brutal attack.

Top Senate Democrat wants Turkish recognition of Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , a decades-long outspoken advocate of justice for the Armenian Genocide, has cosponsored bipartisan Senate legislation condemning that crime and calling for an end to international complicity in Turkish government denials, reported the Armenian National Committee of America . "It is my sacred duty to speak out against the terrors of the past and against those who cannot speak of it themselves and that's why I am a proud co-sponsor of this Senate resolution.

Trump’s disdain for the world is making America weak again: Opinion

President Donald Trump, right, is flanked by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during their meeting with Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni, at the US ambassador residence in Rome, Wednesday May 24, 2017. President Donald Trump, right, is flanked by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during their meeting with Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni, at the US ambassador residence in Rome, Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Turkey spends $2.6 Million to Hire Two New Lobbying and PR Firms

Last week, I wrote about a dozen public relations and lobbying companies the Turkish government had already hired. In recent weeks, the Republic of Turkey added two new such firms: Ballard Partners and Burson-Marsteller.

House speaker calls Erdogan visit violence ‘indefensible’

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that the violence against peaceful protesters by bodyguards for Turkey's president was "completely indefensible," as members of Congress pressed the Trump administration for a more forceful U.S. response. Ryan, R-Wis., said in a statement that Turkey is an important ally and NATO member, but its leaders must "fully condemn and apologize for this brutal behavior against innocent civilians exercising their First Amendment rights" last week outside the Turkish ambassador's residence.

Turkish businessman who hired Flynn says neither of them worked for Turkish government

Michael Flynn during the closing months of the 2016 presidential election refused to say whether he had been questioned or received a subpoena in connection with the ongoing investigation into the dealings of Trump associates during the campaign. Alptekin, who was in Washington, D.C. attending a Turkish-American business conference at the Trump International Hotel, founded a Dutch-based company called Inovo that paid the Flynn Intel Group more than $500,000 during the presidential campaign, according to papers Flynn filed with the Department of Justice.

US lawmakers condemn Turkish president’s security detail for…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to watch as members of his security detail attacked protesters on US soil during a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. New video published Thursday shows Erdogan's black Mercedes sedan surrounded by agents as it sat parked near the demonstrations.

The Latest: Some GOP lawmakers stand behind Trump

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of N.Y. reacts to questions from reporters about President Donald Trump reportedly sharing classified information with two Russian diplomats during a meeting in the Oval Office, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The Latest: Spicer unauthorized leaks a frankly dangerousa

White House press secretary Sean Spicer says unauthorized leaking of sensitive or classified information is "frankly dangerous," after President Donald Trump reportedly shared classified information with two Russian diplomats during a meeting in the Oval Office. He drew a distinction between leaks and Trump's conversation with the Russians, saying the discussion with the Russian officials involved shared threats to the U.S. and Russia.