By Bloomberg
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US President Donald Trump sparred with an Australian journalist over his personal wealth during an exchange on the White House lawn, where he also appeared to confirm plans to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at next week’s United Nations summit.
When asked Tuesday by an Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter how much richer he had become since returning to office, Trump replied, “I don’t know”, noting his children handle the family business and that “most of the deals that I’ve made were made before”.
The ABC reporter then asked if it was appropriate for a sitting president to be engaged in so much business activity, prompting Trump to question where the journalist was from.
“In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along with me,” Trump said. “You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone.”
When the reporter persisted in his line of questioning, Trump said: “Quiet.”
Albanese’s office declined to comment about the meeting with Trump when contacted on Wednesday in Sydney.
Albanese has been trying to meet Trump since their planned first, in-person talks at the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June were cancelled at the last minute after the president left to focus on the Israel-Iran conflict. The Australian prime minister will join other world leaders in New York for the UN General Assembly.
Australia is one of the US’ closest allies, yet numerous uncertainties have emerged since Trump returned to power. They include a US review of the Aukus deal that would see Australia deploy a fleet of nuclear submarines. Washington has also urged Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its gross domestic product from around 2 per cent now, which Canberra has to date resisted.
Albanese said on Tuesday that he and the president would see each other in New York.
“He’s hosting a reception on Tuesday night of next week,” the prime minister said. “And as well, we’ll see each other at various forums that are taking place between now and the end of the year. It’s summit season.”
