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| Australian politicians rally behind ABC journalist after clash with Donald Trump | Australian politicians rally behind ABC journalist after clash with Donald Trump |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US president accuses John Lyons of ‘hurting Australia’ after reporter asked about his White House business dealings | US president accuses John Lyons of ‘hurting Australia’ after reporter asked about his White House business dealings |
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| Australia’s politicians have thrown their support behind an ABC journalist who was berated by Donald Trump after asking questions about the US president’s personal business dealings in Washington DC on Tuesday. | Australia’s politicians have thrown their support behind an ABC journalist who was berated by Donald Trump after asking questions about the US president’s personal business dealings in Washington DC on Tuesday. |
| Trump was answering questions on the White House lawn when he clashed with the ABC’s Americas editor, John Lyons, who said he was reporting for Four Corners. | Trump was answering questions on the White House lawn when he clashed with the ABC’s Americas editor, John Lyons, who said he was reporting for Four Corners. |
| The exchange also appeared to include Trump’s first confirmation he would meet Anthony Albanese for their first face-to-face talks, as part of the PM’s visit to the UN general assembly next week. | The exchange also appeared to include Trump’s first confirmation he would meet Anthony Albanese for their first face-to-face talks, as part of the PM’s visit to the UN general assembly next week. |
| Lyons asked Trump how much wealthier he had become since returning to the Oval Office for his second term in January, noting that he was regarded as the wealthiest man to occupy the White House. | Lyons asked Trump how much wealthier he had become since returning to the Oval Office for his second term in January, noting that he was regarded as the wealthiest man to occupy the White House. |
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| “I don’t know,” Trump said, explaining that his children were responsible for the family business, the Trump Organization. | “I don’t know,” Trump said, explaining that his children were responsible for the family business, the Trump Organization. |
| “But most of the deals that I’ve made were made before,” he said. “This is what I’ve done for a life. I’ve built buildings.” | “But most of the deals that I’ve made were made before,” he said. “This is what I’ve done for a life. I’ve built buildings.” |
| He pointed to the site of a grand ballroom planned for the White House. | He pointed to the site of a grand ballroom planned for the White House. |
| Lyons then asked whether it was appropriate for a US president to be conducting personal business while in office. “I’m really not, my kids are running the business,” Trump said before asking Lyons where he was from. | Lyons then asked whether it was appropriate for a US president to be conducting personal business while in office. “I’m really not, my kids are running the business,” Trump said before asking Lyons where he was from. |
| Trump then accused Lyons of “hurting Australia” with the line of questioning. “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along with me. | Trump then accused Lyons of “hurting Australia” with the line of questioning. “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. 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 him about you. You set a very bad tone. | “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. |
| “You can set a nicer tone,” Trump said, before telling Lyons: “Quiet.” | “You can set a nicer tone,” Trump said, before telling Lyons: “Quiet.” |
| Australia’s treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said Lyons was “just doing his job”. | Australia’s treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said Lyons was “just doing his job”. |
| “I respect the ABC and I respect its independence and that extends to not second-guessing the questions asked legitimately by journalists,” he said. | “I respect the ABC and I respect its independence and that extends to not second-guessing the questions asked legitimately by journalists,” he said. |
| Lyons told the ABC his questions had been “perfectly normal,” describing them as fair, based on research and not asked in an abusive fashion. | Lyons told the ABC his questions had been “perfectly normal,” describing them as fair, based on research and not asked in an abusive fashion. |
| “If we’ve reached the point where asking those sort of questions prevents you from going into the White House, then I think it’s a very dark day,” he said. “I’ve still got to brace myself for what happens when he tells on me.” | “If we’ve reached the point where asking those sort of questions prevents you from going into the White House, then I think it’s a very dark day,” he said. “I’ve still got to brace myself for what happens when he tells on me.” |
| David Pocock, an independent senator, called for stronger defences of press freedom and mocked Trump. | David Pocock, an independent senator, called for stronger defences of press freedom and mocked Trump. |
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| “That doesn’t include the leader of another country thinking he can report journos to our PM for asking hard questions,” he posted on X. | “That doesn’t include the leader of another country thinking he can report journos to our PM for asking hard questions,” he posted on X. |
| The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Trump was trying to bully the media and Australia, and demanded Albanese stand up to criticism of Australian journalists. | |
| The Liberal senator Sarah Henderson called for the ABC to explain Lyons’ line of questioning, given the importance of trade, defence and national security matters to the Australia-US relationship. Bridget McKenzie, a Nationals frontbencher, defended Lyons. | |
| “There’s nothing wrong with journalists asking tough questions,” McKenzie said. | “There’s nothing wrong with journalists asking tough questions,” McKenzie said. |
| Albanese has been seeking a meeting with Trump since the pair’s first talks were abruptly cancelled at the G20 summit in Canada in June. His schedule for the upcoming visit to New York is yet to be confirmed but Australian officials are trying to lock in a time. | Albanese has been seeking a meeting with Trump since the pair’s first talks were abruptly cancelled at the G20 summit in Canada in June. His schedule for the upcoming visit to New York is yet to be confirmed but Australian officials are trying to lock in a time. |
| This week Albanese said he would see Trump at the meeting of world leaders in New York, as well at upcoming international summits. | This week Albanese said he would see Trump at the meeting of world leaders in New York, as well at upcoming international summits. |
| “We’ll see each other in New York,” the prime minister said. “He is hosting a reception on Tuesday night of next week. 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.” | “We’ll see each other in New York,” the prime minister said. “He is hosting a reception on Tuesday night of next week. 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.” |
| The meeting is expected to cover urgent issues in the bilateral relationship, including the Pentagon’s review of the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement and Trump’s demands that Australia spend more on defence. | The meeting is expected to cover urgent issues in the bilateral relationship, including the Pentagon’s review of the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement and Trump’s demands that Australia spend more on defence. |
| Trump and senior US officials have privately urged Australia to commit to spending as much as 3.5% of GDP on defence, a potential $30bn annual increase to the defence spend of about $59bn. | Trump and senior US officials have privately urged Australia to commit to spending as much as 3.5% of GDP on defence, a potential $30bn annual increase to the defence spend of about $59bn. |
| The Aukus review – which is being led by the undersecretary of defence and Aukus sceptic, Elbridge Colby – is due to be completed around November. Australia has sent about $1.6bn to the US as part of the agreement. | The Aukus review – which is being led by the undersecretary of defence and Aukus sceptic, Elbridge Colby – is due to be completed around November. Australia has sent about $1.6bn to the US as part of the agreement. |