There were lots of ups and downs during Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese’s landmark meeting in the US this week.
Trump and the Australian PM helmed a meeting together in Washington, D.C., with Albanese having to wait 10 months for his first in-person bilateral with the US president.
Trump had high praise for Australia, saying there has “never been anybody better” to the US. During the pair’s meeting, Trump guaranteed renewed commitment from the US to AUKUS, including confirmation that Australia would get the submarines it was paying for. They also discussed a multibillion-dollar minerals deal aimed at combating China’s global dominance in the sector.
Things were going so well, in fact, that a potential Trump visit Down Under was also mooted.
Former Aussie PM Kevin Rudd, however, enjoyed a less positive experience.
Australia’s ambassador to the US got a caustic dressing down from Trump, who clearly didn’t take kindly to Rudd’s previous scathing social media posts about the president.
As they sat across from each other in the meeting room, a journalist asked Trump about Rudd’s posts, to which he replied that maybe the ambassador would “like to apologise”. Trump then looked directly at Rudd and added: “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”
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Rather than sticking up for his countryman, Albanese laughed off the awkward interaction, before the meeting continues as normal.
In brighter moments, Trump hailed Australia as “a fantastic place,” praising Albanese as being a “highly respected” who had done a “fantastic job.”
“We’ve been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there’s never been anybody better,” Trump told Albanese during their meeting.
“We fought wars together and we never had any doubts. It’s a great honour to have you as my friend and a great honour to have you in the United States of America.”
