08.07.2026 14:20
The greeting given to Turkish commander Ahmet Kurumahmut at the NATO Leaders' Summit caused a great stir on social media. Trump's words "I like your voice" were also met with joy in his hometown of Trabzon.
A notable dialogue between US President Donald Trump, who paid an official visit to Turkey for the NATO Leaders Summit held in Ankara, and a Turkish commander quickly became one of the most talked-about topics on social media.
Trump, who was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Beştepe, shook hands one by one with the members of the welcoming delegation.
When it came to the turn of Lieutenant General Ahmet Kurumahmut, the Commander of the 4th Corps and Ankara Garrison, striking moments were captured by cameras. US President Donald Trump stood at attention in a formal manner before the Turkish commander and gave a military salute.
During the handshake, Trump pointed at Lieutenant General Ahmet Kurumahmut and was heard saying "I like his voice," engaging in a friendly exchange, which was also reflected in the footage.
The images and photos, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, were shared by thousands of users and received intense engagement. Particularly on X, Facebook, and various news groups, the footage sparked widespread reactions and brought about pride-themed discussions on digital platforms.
Prideful Sharing from His Hometown
The fact that Lieutenant General Ahmet Kurumahmut, originally from the Sugeldi (Yavan) neighborhood of the Of district in Trabzon, was greeted and complimented in this manner by the US President was met with joy in his hometown of Trabzon.
One of the most notable shares on social media was made in a local Facebook group from the Of district. The message shared by the local community and neighbors included the following statements:
"Trump stands at attention before Lieutenant General Ahmet Kurumahmut. Our villager, our neighbor, our pride."
Diverse Comments on Social Media
After the footage rapidly spread, social media users gathered around two different opinions.
Some users evaluated Trump's military salute and his words "I like his voice" as a meaningful gesture showing the international prestige of the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkey.
On the other hand, some users argued that what happened was entirely within the framework of official military protocol.
Protocol experts and many social media users stated that when foreign heads of state encounter high-ranking uniformed military personnel at official welcoming ceremonies, saluting out of courtesy and respect for military tradition is a natural part of international diplomatic protocol. Thus, the footage became the focus of both pride messages and protocol debates.