Trump sends Turkish President letter to "work out a good deal," tells him not to "be a fool"

Mere days after United States President Donald Trump refused to intervene in Turkey's military assault against the Kurds in Syria, a copy of a letter he sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has surfaced. In the letter, he asks the President to "work out a good deal" and warns him to not "be a fool." The copy, first obtained by a reporter for Fox News, was written on October 9, the day Turkey launched its attack. The letter was declared authentic by the White House to several news outlets, The Guardian reports. Trump's easy admission to greenlight the attack has now come under further criticism.

The letter addressed to President Erdoğan reads, "Dear Mr. President: Let's work out a good deal! You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy - and I will. I've already given you a little sample with respect to Pastor Brunson. I have worked hard to solve some of your problems. Don't let the world down. You can make a great deal. General Mazloum is willing to negotiate with you, and he is willing to make concessions that they would never have made in the past. I am confidentially enclosing a copy of his letter to me, just received. History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen. Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool! I will call you later." The letter was then duly signed by President Trump.

At first, many believed the copy seemed to be a joke or prank of some sort. It was only later that the letter's authenticity was validated. Democratic congressman Mike Quigley, for example, claimed in an interview with CNN, "I actually thought it was a prank, a joke, that it couldn’t possibly come from the Oval Office. It sounds all the world like the President of the United States, in some sort of momentary lapse, just dictated angrily whatever was on the top of his head." For those familiar with Trump's tweets, this is probably nothing new.

Since it was first released to the public, the letter has been called a joke, prank, and even an "embarrassment." Ned Price, a former CIA officer and National Security Council spokesman, affirmed, "These words on White House stationary [sic] should embarrass all Americans, but Trump’s ‘confidential’ enclosure of the SDF commander’s letter will give our allies even less reason to trust America. How much Nato correspondence has been forwarded to Putin?" The letter was also allegedly seen being passed around the Senate, according to insider sources.

Reportedly, the President of Turkey paid no heed to the letter. Turkish sources told the BBC that the letter was "thoroughly rejected" by Erdoğan. They revealed, "President Erdogan received the letter, thoroughly rejected it and put it in the bin." As the investigation into Trump's impeachment continues, one can only wonder what a letter like this could mean for his administration and its impending downfall.