There was no deal with Turkey for the release of American pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday, thanking President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his help and signaling a rapprochement in ties after a long period of trouble between the two NATO allies.

On Thursday, U.S. broadcaster NBC reported that the White House had made a "deal" with the Turkish government to release Brunson soon, citing two senior Trump administration officials and one other source familiar with the matter. However, Trump said that such a deal did not take place, adding that he does not make "deals for hostages."

Trump also thanked Erdoğan for his help in the case of Brunson, who was freed by a Turkish court after two years of trial under arrest. He was sentenced on terror charges but released considering the time he was in prison.

Trump also announced that he would meet with Brunson in the Oval Office.

Erdoğan later responded to Trump on Twitter, stressing that the Turkish judiciary made the decision regarding Brunson "independetly."

"I hope that Turkey and the U.S. will continue to cooperate, as befits two allies. [And] will carry out a joint fight against terrorist group, particularly the PKK, Daesh and the [Gülenist Terror Group] FETÖ," Erdoğan​ wrote.

Brunson not freed due to pressure, ruling AK Party spokesperson says

Turkey's decision to release Brunson accused with alleged ties to FETÖ and the PKK terrorist organization was not due to any pressure from outside but rather the result of the processes of the independent Turkish judiciary, spokesman for Justice and Development Party (AK Party) also said Saturday.

"Despite these impositions and threats" over the case, "none of the Republic of Turkey's institutions including" the presidency took any action on the case of Andrew Brunson due to pressure, Ömer Çelik told reporters in the southern province of Adana.

"At this stage, the judicial process has been completed," he added.

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