Crackdowns by Turkey’s Erdogan Are ‘Troubling,’ Obama Says
- Turkish leader couldn't land official meeting at summit
- Erdogan's bodyguards fought with protesters in Washington
Police officers detain a Kurdish man in Istanbul on March 20, 2016.
Photographer: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
President Barack Obama said Friday he was concerned that crackdowns against the press by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could lead his nation down a "troubling" path.
The comments, which represented a rare pointed critique of the leader of a NATO ally, came the day after Turkish security officials clashed with protesters and reporters before Erdogan delivered a speech in Washington. Erdogan and Obama later met briefly on the sidelines of a dinner at the White House.