*From:* "Bennett, Brian" <xxx@latimes.com> *Date:* September 21, 2017 at 3:38:56 PM EDT
*Subject:* *Travel pool report #11 - Trump meeting with Ergodan*
For President Trump's meeting with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pool was brought into a conference room at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel shortly after 3 pm.
Trump and Erdogan sat at in chairs next to each other the end of room. Seated next to Trump were Tillerson, Haley and McMaster.
Trump welcomed Erdogan, saying the Turkish leader "has become a friend of mine" and "he's running a very difficult part of the world." "Frankly he's getting high marks," Trump added. "We have a great friendship... we are as close as we've ever been."
Erdogan spoke through a translator and referred to President Trump as "my dear friend Donald."
After the two leaders spoke, reporters shouted questions about Kurdish forces in Syria and the suppression of peaceful protests. Trump said, "we'll be discussing many issues."
Trump did not respond when a reporter asked when was the last time he spoke with Paul Manafort.
This was Trump's final scheduled meeting of the day in New York. Later this afternoon, he will be flying to Bedminster for the night.
Brian Bennett
Los Angeles Times
Cell (202)-xxx-xxxx
Twitter @ByBrianBennett
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