Trump: Sending Gülen to Turkey 'not under consideration'

WASHINGTON

U.S President Donald Trump has said extraditing a Turkish-born Muslim cleric blamed by Turkey for engineering a 2016 military coup attempt is "not under consideration."

Trump told reporters on Nov. 17 that "we are always looking at whatever we can do for Turkey," adding that the U.S. "is having a very good moment" with Ankara following Turkey’s recent release of arrested American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Trump also praised Erdoğan as "a strong man," ”a tough man" and "a smart man."

According to Ankara, Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) attempted to overthrow the government with the 2016 coup attempt, headed by the Pennsylvania-based Gülen.

The U.S. has told Turkey it must present convincing evidence for any extradition proceeding to go forward as Ankara insists that it did.