GOP senators say Erdoğan White House invitation should be revoked

Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Mitt Romney (Utah) on Wednesday said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s invitation to visit the White House should be revoked over his offensive in northeastern Syria. 

{mosads}“Erdogan’s attack on our Kurdish partners has served to liberate ISIS prisoners, bolster the Assad regime, and strengthen Russia. His invitation to the White House should be revoked,” Blackburn, typically a reliable ally to President Trump, tweeted. 

Erdogan’s attack on our Kurdish partners has served to liberate ISIS prisoners, bolster the Assad regime, and strengthen Russia.

His invitation to the White House should be revoked.https://t.co/ied6E5xXY1

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 16, 2019

Romney, an elder statesman within the GOP who has often been critical of the president, added that the White House should “absolutely” revoke the invitation. 

Turkey first launched its offensive last week, targeting Kurdish groups it accuses of being linked to an anti-Turkish insurgency. The move was made after Trump announced he was pulling U.S. troops out of the region and alliance with Kurdish forces.

Blackburn represents Tennessee, which has the largest Kurdish population in the U.S.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) echoed the call of her Republican colleagues, saying Trump should “publicly revoke” Erdoğan’s invitation “until Turkey pulls back from its current course.”

“It makes no sense to be extending hospitality & niceties while Erdogan refuses to heed international calls for a ceasefire,” she said Tuesday.

.@realDonaldTrump must publicly revoke his invitation to Pres. Erdogan to visit the U.S. until Turkey pulls back from its current course. It makes no sense to be extending hospitality & niceties while Erdogan refuses to heed international calls for a ceasefire.

— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) October 15, 2019

Trump announced last week after the offensive began that Erdoğan would come to the White House “as my guest” on Nov. 13.

…..good health, at my request, Pastor Brunson, who had many years of a long prison term remaining. Also remember, and importantly, that Turkey is an important member in good standing of NATO. He is coming to the U.S. as my guest on November 13th. #ENDENDLESSWARS

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2019

Turkey’s military moves have sparked bipartisan backlash in Washington, with many saying it puts Kurdish allies who fought with the U.S. against ISIS in danger. Several lawmakers have announced their intention to introduce sanctions against Ankara over the operation.

Trump has already introduced sanctions of his own, saying in a statement he is slapping sanctions on government officials in Ankara and “any persons contributing to Turkey’s destabilizing actions in northeast Syria.” The sanctions include an increase on steel tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent and a halt in trade negotiations with Turkey. 

However, lawmakers have also trained their ire on Trump over his decision to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria ahead of the offensive, which many said lifted the chief deterrent to Turkey’s operation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a staunch Trump ally and defense hawk, said the decision is a “disaster in the making” that “ensures [an] ISIS comeback” and “will be a stain on America’s honor for abandoning the Kurds.”

Jordain Carney contributed to this report