Trump’s Biggest Roadblock to Selling Jets to Turkey May Be Republican Lawmakers

“Selling one of America’s most advanced fighter jets to Turkey is not in the best interest of the United States,” said one House Republican.

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President Donald Trump, right, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Tuesday as Trump arrived for the NATO summit. Francisco Seco/AP Photo

Congress is already pushing back on President Donald Trump’s plans to lift sanctions on Turkey and potentially sell the country F-35 fighter jets.

Lawmakers from both parties warned Tuesday that Turkey’s possession of the S-400 Russian air defense system still poses the security concerns that prompted Congress to restrict F-35 transfers so long as Turkey possesses the system.

The opposition is also being fueled by past clashes between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government and countries that have diaspora communities in the U.S. — and allies on Capitol Hill — including Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Armenia.