By all accounts it was a right dressing down for the Australian Prime Minister on the phone with President Trump.
Reports say the US President hung up less than half way through an expected hour-long conversation on Saturday and Trump told Malcom Turnbull it was his “worst call by far” with a world leader.
Canberra might have expected a more pleasant, genial exchange, given Australia is a close ally and its prime minister had previously praised Trump.
But what would have particularly stung for the Australian leader was Trump slamming a refugee resettlement deal that Canberra thought was confirmed as “dumb” and needing further study.
A Tweet from the US President later incorrectly said that the deal between the two countries involved “thousands” of “illegal” migrants.
The people concerned actually number only 1250 and as they have official refugee status they cannot be considered illegal.
Turnbull would only say their phone call was frank and candid, while denying reports that Trump abruptly hung up.
The Australian Prime Minister later told reporters: “The President assured me that he would continue with – honour – the agreement we entered into with the Obama Administration with respect to refugee resettlement.”
But Trump’s Tweet does seem to contradict Turnbull’s unwavering certainty about the refugee deal.
