Former Washington Ambassador Kilic: Obama was in the situation room on the night of the coup

15.07.2026 21:40

Serdar Kılıç, who was Turkey's Ambassador to Washington during the July 15 coup attempt, said: "'We cannot reach the President,' they said. I angrily replied, 'Well, where is he? Why can't you reach him?' They said, 'President Barack Obama is in the Situation Room.'"

Serdar Kılıç, who was Turkey's Ambassador to Washington during the coup attempt carried out by members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) on July 15, 2016, said: "The Situation Room is a room where the American president and leading people around him follow developments if there is a matter that seriously concerns the American administration outside or inside America. I heard this when they said 'We are waiting for the American President's approval for the statement,' they said 'We cannot reach the President.' I asked angrily, 'Well, where is he? Why can't you reach him?' They said, 'The President is in the Situation Room.'"

"AN UNFORTUNATE PERIOD IN AMERICA"

Kılıç, Turkey's Special Representative for the Turkey-Armenia Normalization Process, spoke to an AA reporter 10 years later about his experiences while serving in the US during the coup attempt by FETÖ on July 15, 2016.

Regarding the stance of then-US President Barack Obama towards the coup attempt in 2016, Kılıç said, "I cannot, and could not, fit this into the framework of relations between two allies at all, but unfortunately it was such an unfortunate period in America. I saw an attitude unworthy of the relations that should exist between two allies."

Reminding that then-US Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey on August 24, 2016, after the coup attempt and shared a message of solidarity, Kılıç recalled that Biden visited the bombed sites during the coup attempt and said, "We came too late, we apologize."

Kılıç stated that Obama was in the "Situation Room," used in critical and important operations in the US state system during the coup attempt, and that Americans told him this, continuing as follows:

"THEY SAID THE PRESIDENT IS IN THE SITUATION ROOM"

"The Situation Room is a room where the American president and leading people around him follow developments if there is a matter that seriously concerns the American administration outside or inside America. I heard this when they said 'We are waiting for the American President's approval for the statement,' they said 'We cannot reach the President.' I asked angrily, 'Well, where is he? Why can't you reach him?' They said, 'The President is in the Situation Room.'

Of course, this may not necessarily mean following developments related to Turkey; there could have been another development within America or elsewhere in the world that might concern America. But of course, at that moment, when it was happening, you interpret it for yourself. And frankly, I couldn't make much sense of it. Even if the US President was in the Situation Room, I would have expected him to be reached, to get his approval, and for a statement to be made while such a strong NATO ally, such a strong US ally, was under such an attack, a treacherous attack. (Regarding the Situation Room) Even if he went there for another reason, he was told 'These things are happening in Turkey.'"

Referring to the assessment of then-US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Moscow during the coup attempt and said, "I have no knowledge of this," Kılıç said he did not find this very realistic.

Emphasizing that the Obama administration should have taken a more serious stance after the coup attempt, Kılıç said, "Ultimately, it was a period very different from the current administration's attitude," expressing that he sees having served in America during that time as both a blessing and a misfortune.

Kılıç stated that regarding the Obama administration's criticisms of Turkey after the coup attempt, he reminded his counterparts that following the reunification of East and West Germany, public officials deemed to have connections with Eastern Bloc intelligence were dismissed, and that the US did not raise any criticism at that time about adhering to democratic rules.

Kılıç continued his remarks as follows:

"AN ATTITUDE UNBECOMING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO ALLIED COUNTRIES"

"(Regarding the Obama administration's stance on the coup attempt) I cannot, and could not, fit this into the framework of relations between two allies at all, but unfortunately it was such an unfortunate period in America. I saw an attitude unworthy of the relations that should exist between two allies. That is, Obama should have called our President immediately that night and expressed his support. He should have said 'get well soon.' He should have offered condolences for our citizens who lost their lives. And the American government should have made a very strong statement supporting democracy in Turkey.

You don't need to be a diplomatic genius to say all these things. This is a requirement of common sense. Your ally's democracy is under attack, and you do not give a strong reaction. You don't even condemn it, and you even call for restraint. Was this a choice or a necessity? Neither is considered. Because in such a situation, there is no choice or necessity. This is what being an ally means. You stand by your ally."

"WE STOOD BY OUR ALLY ON 9/11"

Kılıç recalled that after the September 11 attacks, Turkey stood by the US without any conditions.

Stating that Turkey was also attacked on July 15, Kılıç said, "America was attacked. That was also a physical attack. Whether internal or external, our ally was attacked, and we stood by our ally. In Turkey, bombs were dropped on people, machine guns were fired, people were crushed by tanks. In such a situation, if you are sincere, you come out and make a strong statement about the need to protect democracy in Turkey. I am only talking about a disappointment."

Noting that Obama was on the unfortunate side of events during the coup attempt, Kılıç assessed, "If President Trump had been in America at that time, he might have taken a much different stance. Even if it had been Biden, he might have taken a much different stance."

Kılıç stated that in all notifications made to the Obama administration regarding the coup attempt, the FETÖ leader, who was living in Pennsylvania at that time, was pointed out, and he said the leader should have at least been summoned to the prosecutor's office and questioned about the coup attempt even once.

Regarding the visits of Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz to the US before the coup attempt, Kılıç said, "It is said that Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz came to Turkey on the 12th and returned on the 13th. It is made to seem as if they stayed for a day. However, due to the time difference, they appear to have returned on the 13th. They came for about 1-2 hours, received their instructions, and returned to Turkey."

Stating that FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen and his organization had caused various problems in Turkey before July 15 as well, Kılıç noted that they submitted numerous files to US authorities after the coup attempt.

Stating that he personally delivered the files to American authorities, Kılıç said, "If these files had been acted upon, a much different outcome could have emerged in America regarding Fetullah Gülen."

"I PERSONALLY HANDED OVER MORE THAN 140 FILES"

Kilic, stating that cash over 10,000 dollars is confiscated upon entry to the US and a legal process is initiated, said that even when this money is withdrawn from the Embassy account, they receive calls asking what the money will be used for.

"There is over 100 million dollars that came to Fetullah Gulen from Turkey. Cash is circulating around, coming from schools in America. Robert Amsterdam (American lawyer) revealed all of this with evidence. We gave them files on this matter, yet nothing was done. So, the functioning of the American political system is very different. In America, politics is shaped by votes and financial resources. If you have enough financial resources, you can transfer those resources to election campaigns and secure certain support for yourself from members of the House of Representatives and senators." Kilic said, adding that looking at the period that followed, the Obama administration should not have taken such an unfortunate approach.

Kilic emphasized that the attitude of the Obama administration during that period left deep wounds in the hearts of the Turkish people.

"Our people were killed in the streets, and the person behind this, who gave the orders, lived in America, continued to live there until he died, and no action was taken against him." Kilic said, adding:

"Some even said that no files were given to us regarding this man. I personally handed over more than 140 files. I handed over folders. So, we did everything we could. I personally explained this to American authorities. I explained it to National Security Advisors. I explained it to all their advisors. I explained it to ministers. There were ministers who were close friends of mine. There were also ministers and officials I met with officially. I explained it to them too, but unfortunately, as I said, all my calls fell on deaf ears.

I also wrote on X (US-based social media application). July 15 is an event where the patriotic spirit of the Turkish people, from 7 to 70, which became a symbol of the War of Independence and Gallipoli, poured into the streets and their democratic leaders were protected. It is a page to be proud of in Turkey's history."