Trump praises Erdogan: ‘We have a great friendship’

President Trump on Thursday hailed the close relationship formed with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a bilateral meeting in New York.

“We have a great friendship, as countries and I think we’re right now as close as we’ve ever been,” Trump said, according to pool reports. His comments come a day after delivering his first address before the United Nations General Assembly.

Trump praises Erdoğan, says US and Turkey relationship is closest that has never been pic.twitter.com/Ci4KTJ1IXm

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) September 21, 2017 

Trump went on to say that Erdogan is “running a very difficult part of the world. He has evolved very strongly, and frankly he’s getting very high marks.”

{mosads}Erdogan has been the subject of international condemnation after implementing a crackdown on dissidents in Turkey following a failed coup attempt in the summer of 2016. 

The Turkish president reciprocated Trump’s sentiments, calling his counterpart “my dear friend Donald,” according to the pool report.

Nine protesters were injured in a clash with Erdogan’s bodyguards outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington in May, after the Turkish president met with Trump to discuss. fighting terror groups in the Middle East.