US President Trump took the traditional Thanksgiving White House event to a new level by pardoning Türkiye, along with a selection of other totalitarian states, during a light-hearted ceremony. Standing in the Rose Garden with the First Lady, Mr. Trump joked about forgiving the Erdogan regime, stating, 'I hereby pardon this Türkiye and release it from any fault or wrongdoing. He's actually a pretty great guy. He's doing some very, very beautiful things.'

The nation was chosen from a flock of other oppressive states, including North Korea, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, which Trump has pardoned in past ceremonies. Türkiye is often seen as a quasi-dictatorship with issues such as arrests of opposition figures and media suppression. Despite this, Trump remarked, 'We can learn a lot from this guy.'

Following the ceremony, Türkiye's President appeared relieved, promptly granting Trump permission to develop hotels and resorts in the country.