American pastor Andrew Brunson met with President Donald Trump at the White House Saturday, a day after Turkish authorities released him from captivity.
"From a Turkish prison to the White House in 24 hours. That's not bad," President Trump said.
Turkey arrested Brunson in 2016 and charged him with helping to plot an attempted coup there. Brunson denied the accusations, and American officials called the charges "absurd."
Turkey's president suggested the U.S. turn over a Turkish cleric his government believes orchestrated the failed coup in exchange for Brunson.
But before Saturday's meeting, the president insisted on Twitter that "no deal" had been made with the Turkish government for Brunson's release.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on prominent Turkish officials earlier this summer.
Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.
