By 9News,April Glover
Copyright 9news
Australian national broadcaster the ABC has been denied a spot at a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, days after one of its journalists was rebuked by the president for asking about his personal business dealings.
The broadcaster’s London bureau was set to attend Trump’s joint press conference tonight, however the ABC confirmed its accreditation has since been withdrawn by Downing Street Media “due to logistical reasons”.
“We have been given no indication this is connected to the questions put to President Trump by ABC Americas Editor John Lyons earlier this week,” am ABC spokesperson told 9news.com.au.
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The ABC is still accredited to attend the lunch Trump is scheduled to have with UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the PM’s country retreat Chequers.
The joint press conference is scheduled to take place after this lunch.
Trump is in London on his second state visit to the UK.
He earlier attended a state banquet alongside King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The moment of Donald Trump’s UK visit cameras weren’t allowed to seeView Gallery
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Lyons was reporting for Four Corners in Washington earlier this week when he asked Trump about his business dealings and questioned if it was “appropriate” for a sitting president to be engaged in so much person commerce.
“My kids are running the business,” Trump said, before asking where Lyons was from.
“The Australians. You’re hurting Australia, right? In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now,” Trump said.
“And they want to get along with me. You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon.
“I’m going to tell them about you. You set a very bad tone.”
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Speaking on camera for the ABC later that day, Lyons addressed the clash.
“If our job as journalists is to hold truth to power, then surely asking legitimate questions politely to the president of the United States should be acceptable, but in this day and age now, it’s not,” Lyons said.
Lyons defended his questions as fair, research-based, and politely conveyed.
Asked whether he had been banned from White House grounds, he said it would be a “very dark day” if that was the case.
“I don’t think we’ve yet reached that point though,” he said.
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