Wow. When did we ever see our previous president – you know, the self-professed “Christian” one – get tough with an Islamic dictator? Better yet, when did we ever hear him speak up in defense of any Christians? Yeah, Mr. Genuine.
 
That’s why it’s so awesome to see that Donald Trump is afraid to do neither! ~ Trump on US pastor jailed in Turkey: ‘We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man’ ~

Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018

Fox News reported on the president’s remarks last Friday ~

“I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%,” Trump tweeted Friday. “Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”
 
The Turkish lira weakened in value from 4.7 on the dollar to 6.4 on the dollar Friday, for the first time in history breaking the 6 mark […]
 
The Trump administration has threatened more sanctions if Turkey does not release Brunson.

I’ve been blogging about Pastor Brunson for months now (Here, here and here). Although he was finally allowed to leave the miserable prison he’d been confined to last month, he’s still under house arrest. It’s now been almost two years since he was first detained (Oct. 7, 2016).
 
Initially, I was worried that Trump didn’t quite realize what Erdoğan was up to – that is, ruthlessly trying to reconstitute an Islamic caliphate. But the president must have read my 4-20-17 post 😀 But he certainly has no illusions now ~

With Turkey’s economy already in a downward spiral, the president’s treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, announced more financial pressure is on the way if Turkey doesn’t release Pastor Brunson.
 
“As you know, we were very clear with our counterparts there, both Secretary (Mike) Pompeo and myself, on the release of the pastor. We’ve put sanctions on several of the cabinet members. Working with you, we have more that we’re planning to do if they don’t release him quickly,” Mnuchin told the president.

 
According to Business Insider, Turkey’s president threatened a major blow to the US — but Trump looks to have called his bluff ~

But with the US economy doing well and Turkey’s economy and prospects quickly tanking, Erdogan has little room to maneuver. He has plenty of reason to wish for mercy from the US, but little reason to expect it unless it falls in line with the US’s calls to release Brunson and drop the Russian missiles.

 
Let’s pray they’re right.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related:
Speaking of Turkey… (June 27, 2018)
“Turkey has turned into a veritable madhouse” (Nov. 10, 2017)
Turkey’s Islamist regression – Trump approves? ~ This was back in April, 2017. Clearly Trump now recognizes Erdoğan for the tyrant he is.