It’s not just journalists in his home country that Donald Trump likes to battle. The US president has berated Australian journalist John Lyons, ABC’s Americas editor, accusing him of “hurting Australia.”
Trump was answering questions outside of the White House in Washington D.C. when he got into an argument with Lyons, who told the president he was reporting for Four Corners.
It kicked off when Lyons asked Trump how much wealthier he had become since returning for his second term as president, noting he was considered the wealthiest man to ever occupy the White House.
“I don’t know,” Trump replied, claiming his children were responsible for the family business, the Trump Organisation.
“But most of the deals that I’ve made were made before,” he continued. “This is what I’ve done for a life. I’ve built buildings.”
Lyons then asked Trump if it was appropriate for a US president to be conducting personal business while in office, to which Trump responded, “I’m really not, my kids are running the business.”
It was at this point Trump asked Lyons where he was from. He followed up by accusing Lyons of “hurting Australia” with his persistent questions.
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“In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along with me,” he said. “You know, your leader [Anthony Albanese] is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you. You said a very bad tone.
“You can set a nicer tone,” Trump added, before telling Lyons: “Quiet.”
Reporter: Should a president in office be engaged in so much business activity?
Trump: I’m not, my kids are running the business. Where are you from?
Reporter: Australian broadcasting corporation
Trump: You’re hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along… pic.twitter.com/KDuyJ3nFCL
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 16, 2025
Albanese is coming to the US to attend the UN general assembly next week. It’s hoped that he’ll have time in his schedule to meet Trump face-to-face for talks, following the cancellation of their first talks at the G20 summit in Canada earlier this year.
Another country, another row: it was revealed this week that one UK news station is adjusting its programming to ensure the president’s affinity for lies and misinformation isn’t overlooked during his visit to the country to meet King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Channel 4 announced on Monday that it will greet Trump’s visit with a televised special chronicling the many lies told by the president during the first months of his second administration. Trump v The Truth will air on September 17th and, according to a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the special will likely be “the longest uninterrupted reel of untruths, falsehoods and distortions ever broadcast on television.”
