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Turkish journalist Huseyin Gunay was dismissed from his job after remarks he made in the White House garden during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump were inadvertently broadcast live.
Gunay, who long served as the Washington reporter for Turkish broadcaster NTV, was speaking privately with a Turkish colleague after the press portion of the Oval Office meeting ended on Sept. 25.
His conversation was picked up by an Associated Press (AP) camera that was still live.
In the footage, Gunay is heard saying the talks had not gone well for Türkiye, claiming that the sale of F-35 fighter jets was made conditional on halting purchases of Russian natural gas.
He also said, “Türkiye gained nothing from this meeting,” and used profane language in his assessment.
The footage spread on social media, and NTV management announced his dismissal shortly after.
Earlier that same day, before his firing was made public, Gunay posted on X that he had just become a father.
“Unfortunately, my place on today’s agenda is for another reason, but I had a piece of news I was eager to share with you,” he wrote.
“It just happened to coincide with today, purely by chance. I wanted to share my happiness with you and have you join in our joy. I became a father.”
2 min read
Erdogan, who was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly before traveling to Washington, stayed at Blair House, the U.S. president’s official guest residence.
On his return flight, he described his meeting with Trump as “sincere, constructive, and productive.”
“We held our talks with Mr. President in a sincere, constructive, and productive atmosphere,” Erdogan told reporters.
“As is known, my relationship with (Mr.) Trump has always been very good in the past. During his first term, we had a different dialogue, and that continues.”
He added that the visit was “such a beautiful one that it cannot be tainted by mudslinging.”
6 min read
