US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was a "big fan" of his visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, despite opposition from many in Congress to the red-carpet welcome.
"Turkey, as everyone knows, is a great NATO ally and a strategic partner of the United States," Trump said at the start of a joint press conference.
"I'm a big fan of the president."
Trump said he had a "wonderful and very productive meeting" at the White House on Wednesday with Turkish President Erdoğan.
U.S. leader also added that he hoped the two countries would be able to resolve their differences over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile systems.
