Trump says US not weighing S-400 sanctions 'right now'

President does not elaborate when asked by reporter after US begins process of removing Turkey, Turkish firms from F-35

Trump says US not weighing S-400 sanctions 'right now'

President Donald Trump said Thursday the U.S. is not weighing sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air system for the time being. 

"No, we're not looking at this right now. No," he said in response to a question from a reporter in the Oval Office. It is unclear how he could go about doing so under American law.

The Trump administration began Wednesday the process of removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter program over its acquisition of the S-400 in a major rift with a key NATO ally.