April 17, 2017 🟠 Major

Congratulates Erdogan on referendum consolidating one-man rule, breaking with monitors and his own State Department

Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on winning a referendum that replaced Turkey's parliamentary system with an expanded executive presidency — becoming the first Western leader to do so. International monitors had reported an unlevel campaign field, imbalanced media coverage, and electoral rules changed after polls opened; Trump's own State Department had pointedly cited those irregularities the same day. A senior administration official described the congratulation as unqualified, with no concerns raised on the call.