President Erdoğan says TRT leads Türkiye's 'struggle for truth' globally

President Erdoğan says TRT leads Türkiye's 'struggle for truth' globally

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has positioned Türkiye's state media as a crucial defender of national narrative and cultural values in an era of global information warfare. Speaking at the launch ceremony for the new youth channel TRT Genç in Ankara, he praised the public broadcaster TRT and Anadolu Agency for leading what he termed the "struggle for truth."

The role of public broadcasting in cultural defense

Erdoğan stated that during a time of intense "information and culture wars," these institutions serve as a barrier against cultural degeneration by prioritizing content that is "good, right and just." He emphasized that TRT, as a public service broadcaster, must remain faithful to historical truth regarding Türkiye's past and should not compromise for ratings. He opened his speech by congratulating the nation on Mi'raj Night and praying for peace for the oppressed, particularly in Gaza.

Launch of TRT Genç and the fight against social ills

The new channel, launched under the slogan "the future is you," is designed to be a key platform for youth development, featuring content on science, technology, arts, and sports. Erdoğan argued that such platforms are vital in combating modern addictions, which he described as plagues "as harmful as terrorism." He identified the family unit as a primary battleground in culture wars, criticizing mainstream media for promoting "distorted relationships" and calling for stronger, family-friendly programming.

International acclaim and soft power achievements

The president highlighted TRT's international successes as evidence of its global influence, noting its co-production of the Palme d'Or winning film Triangle of Sadness and an Emmy Award for a TRT World documentary. He specifically mentioned the impact of the documentary Holy Redemption on the issue of Israeli settlers and revealed that nearly 100 TRT co-productions have won around 500 awards in recent years. He also extended his wishes to the film Palestine 36, a TRT co-production nominated for an Oscar, framing these accomplishments as part of Türkiye's growing cultural diplomacy and soft power.