US seeks to buy other countries' wills with its dollars, Erdoğan says ahead of UN vote on Jerusalem

The U.S., the "cradle of democracy," is seeking to buy countries' wills with its dollars, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday after his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that vote in favor of a draft United Nations resolution against his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey's democratic will with your dollars, our decision is clear. I'm also calling on the whole world. Don't you dare. Never sell your will in fight for democracy for petty dollars," Erdoğan said.

The president stressed that a fight for democracy should not be done by means of selling one's will, urging to let countries use and assert their will freely.

"I hope the U.S. will not get the result it expects and the world will teach U.S. a very good lesson," Erdoğan said.