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| Donald Trump rages at 'dumb deal' with Australia over refugee resettlement – live | Donald Trump rages at 'dumb deal' with Australia over refugee resettlement – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.30am GMT | |
| 07:30 | |
| Summary | |
| Claire Phipps | |
| An unexpected row has broken out between Australia and the US, prompted by (what else?) a tweet by Donald Trump: | |
| Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal! | |
| The tweet followed a report in the Washington Post that claimed a phone call between Trump and the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had ended abruptly and acrimoniously, with the president reportedly labelling it “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader. | |
| The two were said to have clashed over a deal struck between the Turnbull government and the Obama administration at the end of last year, which would have seen up to 1,250 refugees currently stranded in Australia’s offshore detention camps on Nauru and Manus island considered for resettlement in the US. In return, Australia would take refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. | |
| A source told the Washington Post that Trump had accused Australia of trying to send over the “next Boston bombers”, raging that keeping to the agreement would “kill” him politically and calling it: | |
| The worst deal ever. | |
| While Turnbull told reporters he would not comment on the content of the conversation, he did deny that the US president had hung up on him, insisting the call – which lasted for 25 minutes instead of the hour afforded other world leaders – “ended courteously”. | |
| The Australian prime minister insisted the US remained committed to the deal: | |
| We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. | |
| This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment. | |
| Just an hour and 40 minutes before Trump tweeted, a spokesperson for the US embassy in Canberra said the “decision to honour the refugee agreement has not changed … This was just reconfirmed to the State Department from the WH [White House] and on to this embassy at 1315 Canberra time.” | |
| But Trump’s tweet – labelling the agreement a “dumb deal”, saying he would review it, and incorrectly calling those affected “illegal immigrants” (they are refugees) – now seems to have put those earlier assurances very much in doubt. | |
| Read more | |
| Australia struggling to save refugee agreement after Trump’s fury at ‘dumb deal’ | |
| Q&A: what is the Australian refugee deal and why has it angered Trump? | |
| A handy guide for Malcolm Turnbull on dealing with Donald Trump | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.32am GMT | |
| 7.09am GMT | 7.09am GMT |
| 07:09 | 07:09 |
| Just a few days ago, the Australian treasurer, Scott Morrison, refused to be drawn into widespread criticism of Trump’s travel ban, saying the rest of the world was now “catching up” with Australia’s harsh policies on immigration: | Just a few days ago, the Australian treasurer, Scott Morrison, refused to be drawn into widespread criticism of Trump’s travel ban, saying the rest of the world was now “catching up” with Australia’s harsh policies on immigration: |
| We are the envy of the world when it comes to strong border protection policies. | We are the envy of the world when it comes to strong border protection policies. |
| The rest of the world would love to have our borders and the way they are secured and the immigration arrangements we have put in place, particularly most recently, over the last three or four years. | The rest of the world would love to have our borders and the way they are secured and the immigration arrangements we have put in place, particularly most recently, over the last three or four years. |
| We’ve got a good history around this. Really, the rest of the world is catching up to Australia. | We’ve got a good history around this. Really, the rest of the world is catching up to Australia. |
| Morrison also praised the refugee resettlement deal – then apparently confirmed between Trump and Turnbull – as “an extraordinary achievement” by the Australian PM: | Morrison also praised the refugee resettlement deal – then apparently confirmed between Trump and Turnbull – as “an extraordinary achievement” by the Australian PM: |
| [The prime minister] is very pleased we’ve been able to secure this arrangement. They are both business people, aren’t they, and a deal’s a deal. | [The prime minister] is very pleased we’ve been able to secure this arrangement. They are both business people, aren’t they, and a deal’s a deal. |
| 6.56am GMT | 6.56am GMT |
| 06:56 | 06:56 |
| What you need to know about the refugee deal | What you need to know about the refugee deal |
| The deal relates to 1,250 refugees held on Australia’s offshore detention camps on Nauru and Manus Island, including many from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq. The refugees, some of whom are stateless, have spent years languishing in the offshore detention camps, which the United Nations has repeatedly criticised as cruel and illegal. | The deal relates to 1,250 refugees held on Australia’s offshore detention camps on Nauru and Manus Island, including many from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq. The refugees, some of whom are stateless, have spent years languishing in the offshore detention camps, which the United Nations has repeatedly criticised as cruel and illegal. |
| They are unable to go home, but the government says they cannot come to Australia – even where confirmed to be genuine refugees – because they travelled to Australia by boat. The vast majority of those in Australia’s offshore detention regime have been confirmed to have a valid claim to refugee status, meaning they are legally owed Australia’s protection. | They are unable to go home, but the government says they cannot come to Australia – even where confirmed to be genuine refugees – because they travelled to Australia by boat. The vast majority of those in Australia’s offshore detention regime have been confirmed to have a valid claim to refugee status, meaning they are legally owed Australia’s protection. |
| The deal was also to include hundreds of refugees who were in Australia receiving medical care, provided they had been found to be refugees. | The deal was also to include hundreds of refugees who were in Australia receiving medical care, provided they had been found to be refugees. |
| In November, the US agreed to take an undisclosed number of refugees. Applicants were to be interviewed twice by US officials before being resettled, in a process that was to take between six and 12 months. | In November, the US agreed to take an undisclosed number of refugees. Applicants were to be interviewed twice by US officials before being resettled, in a process that was to take between six and 12 months. |
| The deal was seen as a significant win for the Turnbull government. Australia has searched in vain for a sustainable plan for refugees. For more than three years Australia has maintained it will never settle on the mainland asylum-seekers who arrive by boat. But the policy has led to regular reports of human rights abuses, many of them documented in the Guardian’s publication of the Nauru files, and is bitterly condemned by refugees advocates inside and outside Australia. | The deal was seen as a significant win for the Turnbull government. Australia has searched in vain for a sustainable plan for refugees. For more than three years Australia has maintained it will never settle on the mainland asylum-seekers who arrive by boat. But the policy has led to regular reports of human rights abuses, many of them documented in the Guardian’s publication of the Nauru files, and is bitterly condemned by refugees advocates inside and outside Australia. |
| At the time of the US agreement, only 24 refugees had been resettled in Papua New Guinea, and a handful in Cambodia. | At the time of the US agreement, only 24 refugees had been resettled in Papua New Guinea, and a handful in Cambodia. |
| Read more in our explainer: | Read more in our explainer: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.00am GMT | at 7.00am GMT |
| 6.40am GMT | 6.40am GMT |
| 06:40 | 06:40 |
| American commentators continue to wonder why the US president has decided to pick a fight with Australia: | American commentators continue to wonder why the US president has decided to pick a fight with Australia: |
| Someone please tell White House Australia has more troops fighting ISIS in Iraq than any other ally + has fought at our side since WW2 | Someone please tell White House Australia has more troops fighting ISIS in Iraq than any other ally + has fought at our side since WW2 |
| Most of today felt like the first normalish day of the Trump administration.And now we're at war with Australia.Australia! | Most of today felt like the first normalish day of the Trump administration.And now we're at war with Australia.Australia! |
| Unclear why there's been such surprise that Trump lost it on Turnbull. Photo of the call has been out 4 days & says it all. @gregpmiller pic.twitter.com/kgIJHRRFbd | Unclear why there's been such surprise that Trump lost it on Turnbull. Photo of the call has been out 4 days & says it all. @gregpmiller pic.twitter.com/kgIJHRRFbd |
| 6.29am GMT | 6.29am GMT |
| 06:29 | 06:29 |
| An interesting analysis here by Simon Tisdall on how governments around the world are responding to the new Trump order. | An interesting analysis here by Simon Tisdall on how governments around the world are responding to the new Trump order. |
| Australia doesn’t feature – probably because up until a couple of hours ago, that was one relationship that didn’t seem to be wobbling. | Australia doesn’t feature – probably because up until a couple of hours ago, that was one relationship that didn’t seem to be wobbling. |
| 6.19am GMT | 6.19am GMT |
| 06:19 | 06:19 |
| Is the refugee resettlement plan over? Katharine Murphy and Ben Doherty report on what happens next: | Is the refugee resettlement plan over? Katharine Murphy and Ben Doherty report on what happens next: |
| Australia is scrambling to save its agreement to resettle refugees in the US after Donald Trump raged publicly at “a dumb deal” and told the country’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in private it was the “worst deal ever”. | Australia is scrambling to save its agreement to resettle refugees in the US after Donald Trump raged publicly at “a dumb deal” and told the country’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in private it was the “worst deal ever”. |
| Trump’s pledge to “study” the agreement sparked immediate concern in Canberra. But Turnbull dug in, saying in radio interviews he had a personal commitment from the president “confirmed several times now by the [US] government”. | Trump’s pledge to “study” the agreement sparked immediate concern in Canberra. But Turnbull dug in, saying in radio interviews he had a personal commitment from the president “confirmed several times now by the [US] government”. |
| “We have a clear commitment from the president,” Turnbull told Melbourne radio station 3AW. “We expect that the commitment will continue.” | “We have a clear commitment from the president,” Turnbull told Melbourne radio station 3AW. “We expect that the commitment will continue.” |
| But an Australian official acknowledged: “It’s over. It can’t survive … It was never going to survive Trump’s immigration ban.” | But an Australian official acknowledged: “It’s over. It can’t survive … It was never going to survive Trump’s immigration ban.” |
| 6.13am GMT | 6.13am GMT |
| 06:13 | 06:13 |
| This Twitter account adds context to each of Trump’s tweets: | This Twitter account adds context to each of Trump’s tweets: |
| Just so you know.Learn more: https://t.co/0qXy0rRPgh pic.twitter.com/68D8o7bnRU | Just so you know.Learn more: https://t.co/0qXy0rRPgh pic.twitter.com/68D8o7bnRU |
| 6.05am GMT | 6.05am GMT |
| 06:05 | 06:05 |
| Malcolm Turnbull has been keen to stress – while declining to give details of the phone conversation with Trump – that the US president did not hang up on him. | Malcolm Turnbull has been keen to stress – while declining to give details of the phone conversation with Trump – that the US president did not hang up on him. |
| The Washington Post report – which divulged details of what Trump was said to have described as “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader – did not claim anyone had hung up the call, though it did say it had been cut short “abruptly”: | The Washington Post report – which divulged details of what Trump was said to have described as “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader – did not claim anyone had hung up the call, though it did say it had been cut short “abruptly”: |
| 25 minutes into what was expected to be an hour-long call, Trump abruptly ended it … | 25 minutes into what was expected to be an hour-long call, Trump abruptly ended it … |
| Trump made the call to Turnbull about 5pm Saturday* from his desk in the Oval Office, where he was joined by chief strategist Stephen K Bannon, national security adviser Michael Flynn and White House press secretary Sean Spicer. | Trump made the call to Turnbull about 5pm Saturday* from his desk in the Oval Office, where he was joined by chief strategist Stephen K Bannon, national security adviser Michael Flynn and White House press secretary Sean Spicer. |
| At one point, Turnbull suggested that the two leaders move on from their impasse over refugees to discuss the conflict in Syria and other pressing foreign issues. But Trump demurred and ended the call, making it far shorter than his conversations with Shinzo Abe of Japan, Angela Merkel of Germany, François Hollande of France or Putin. | At one point, Turnbull suggested that the two leaders move on from their impasse over refugees to discuss the conflict in Syria and other pressing foreign issues. But Trump demurred and ended the call, making it far shorter than his conversations with Shinzo Abe of Japan, Angela Merkel of Germany, François Hollande of France or Putin. |
| [*Sunday morning in Australia.] | [*Sunday morning in Australia.] |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.08am GMT | at 6.08am GMT |
| 5.51am GMT | 5.51am GMT |
| 05:51 | 05:51 |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| Trump’s use of the description “illegal immigrants” is loaded, and wrong. | Trump’s use of the description “illegal immigrants” is loaded, and wrong. |
| Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal! | Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal! |
| It is not illegal to arrive in a foreign country without a visa or other documents in order to seek asylum: international law permits it, as does Australian domestic law. | It is not illegal to arrive in a foreign country without a visa or other documents in order to seek asylum: international law permits it, as does Australian domestic law. |
| The vast majority of the people held on both of Australia’s offshore detention islands have been found to be refugees – that is they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland and they are legally owed protection. | The vast majority of the people held on both of Australia’s offshore detention islands have been found to be refugees – that is they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland and they are legally owed protection. |
| It is unlawful to forcibly return those people to their home country under the principle of non-refoulement. | It is unlawful to forcibly return those people to their home country under the principle of non-refoulement. |
| On Manus Island, of 859 people finally assessed, 669 (78%) have been found to be refugees; 190 have been found not to have a claim for protection. | On Manus Island, of 859 people finally assessed, 669 (78%) have been found to be refugees; 190 have been found not to have a claim for protection. |
| On Nauru, of 1200 refugee status determinations, 983 people (82%) have been found to be refugees, while 217 were refused refugee status. | On Nauru, of 1200 refugee status determinations, 983 people (82%) have been found to be refugees, while 217 were refused refugee status. |
| Only those whose refugee status had been granted were eligible for the US resettlement deal. | Only those whose refugee status had been granted were eligible for the US resettlement deal. |
| 5.41am GMT | 5.41am GMT |
| 05:41 | 05:41 |
| Refugee resettlement: what the US and Australia agreed | Refugee resettlement: what the US and Australia agreed |
| Here is what we knew about the deal as it was struck with the Obama administration – in the Trump world, it’s far from clear which parts of it will stand: | Here is what we knew about the deal as it was struck with the Obama administration – in the Trump world, it’s far from clear which parts of it will stand: |
| Australia announced in November 2016 that some refugees currently held in detention on Manus Island and Nauru would be eligible for resettlement in the US as a “one-off” deal. | Australia announced in November 2016 that some refugees currently held in detention on Manus Island and Nauru would be eligible for resettlement in the US as a “one-off” deal. |
| The deal is open only to those found to be refugees. Asylum seekers whose refugee claims are not accepted have been told by Australia to return to their home country or face indefinite detention. | The deal is open only to those found to be refugees. Asylum seekers whose refugee claims are not accepted have been told by Australia to return to their home country or face indefinite detention. |
| Up to 1,250 refugees were believed to be eligible for the deal, should it go ahead. | Up to 1,250 refugees were believed to be eligible for the deal, should it go ahead. |
| In return, Australia would resettle refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. | In return, Australia would resettle refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. |
| Refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are kept on offshore detention islands and told they will never be allowed to settle in Australia. Some have been on Nauru or Manus for years. | Refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are kept on offshore detention islands and told they will never be allowed to settle in Australia. Some have been on Nauru or Manus for years. |
| Applicants for resettlement in the US – who will already have gone through screening processes that determined their refugee status – would have to undergo the “extreme vetting” introduced by the Trump administration, White House spokesman Sean Spicer has said. | Applicants for resettlement in the US – who will already have gone through screening processes that determined their refugee status – would have to undergo the “extreme vetting” introduced by the Trump administration, White House spokesman Sean Spicer has said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.58am GMT | at 5.58am GMT |
| 5.33am GMT | 5.33am GMT |
| 05:33 | 05:33 |
| Australian opposition leader Bill Shorten has said Malcolm Turnbull should be more open about his conversation with Trump, saying the Washington Post account of their phone call was worrying: | Australian opposition leader Bill Shorten has said Malcolm Turnbull should be more open about his conversation with Trump, saying the Washington Post account of their phone call was worrying: |
| We shouldn’t be finding out about what’s happening to Australian policy through the news of foreign countries. | We shouldn’t be finding out about what’s happening to Australian policy through the news of foreign countries. |
| 5.28am GMT | 5.28am GMT |
| 05:28 | 05:28 |
| It’s not only Australia’s leader who endured a bumpy phone call with Trump, it appears: Mexico, a longtime target of the new US president, shared the brunt. | It’s not only Australia’s leader who endured a bumpy phone call with Trump, it appears: Mexico, a longtime target of the new US president, shared the brunt. |
| David Agren reports from Mexico City: | David Agren reports from Mexico City: |
| Donald Trump spoke of sending troops south of the border to take care of “bad hombres” while on the telephone with his Mexican counterpart, according to a transcript cited by the Associated Press. | Donald Trump spoke of sending troops south of the border to take care of “bad hombres” while on the telephone with his Mexican counterpart, according to a transcript cited by the Associated Press. |
| Trump was said to have made either an offer – or a veiled threat – of the US military weighing in to fight Mexican gangs in a conversation on Friday that Enrique Peña Nieto’s office later described as “constructive”. | Trump was said to have made either an offer – or a veiled threat – of the US military weighing in to fight Mexican gangs in a conversation on Friday that Enrique Peña Nieto’s office later described as “constructive”. |
| According to reports that were apparently based on a leaked White House document, the US president told Peña Nieto: “You have a bunch of bad hombres down there. You aren’t doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn’t, so I just might send them down to take care of it.” | According to reports that were apparently based on a leaked White House document, the US president told Peña Nieto: “You have a bunch of bad hombres down there. You aren’t doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn’t, so I just might send them down to take care of it.” |
| 5.19am GMT | 5.19am GMT |
| 05:19 | 05:19 |
| Turnbull: US-Australia alliance 'rock-solid' | Turnbull: US-Australia alliance 'rock-solid' |
| Turnbull says the US is not committed to take all 1,250 refugees eligible for the resettlement deal. | Turnbull says the US is not committed to take all 1,250 refugees eligible for the resettlement deal. |
| The US will apply its own vetting processes, which could see some turned away. | The US will apply its own vetting processes, which could see some turned away. |
| Is Trump difficult to deal with, Turnbull is asked: | Is Trump difficult to deal with, Turnbull is asked: |
| It’s my job to stand up for Australia … I’ve dealt with many people over the years and I’ve enjoyed my dealings with President Trump. | It’s my job to stand up for Australia … I’ve dealt with many people over the years and I’ve enjoyed my dealings with President Trump. |
| The alliance is absolutely rock-solid, it is so strong … It will continue and strengthen during my time as prime minister and, I’m sure, President Trump’s time. | The alliance is absolutely rock-solid, it is so strong … It will continue and strengthen during my time as prime minister and, I’m sure, President Trump’s time. |
| He says dealings have been “frank and forthright” on both sides. | He says dealings have been “frank and forthright” on both sides. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.19am GMT | at 5.19am GMT |
| 5.15am GMT | 5.15am GMT |
| 05:15 | 05:15 |
| Turnbull repeats his denial of the report that Trump hung up on him. | Turnbull repeats his denial of the report that Trump hung up on him. |
| He won’t answer a question on whether the call was cut short, but does say it was 25 minutes long. | He won’t answer a question on whether the call was cut short, but does say it was 25 minutes long. |
| (The Washington Post report that broke the story of the “worst call by far”, in Trump’s reported words, said the call had been scheduled to last an hour.) | (The Washington Post report that broke the story of the “worst call by far”, in Trump’s reported words, said the call had been scheduled to last an hour.) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.16am GMT | at 5.16am GMT |
| 5.14am GMT | 5.14am GMT |
| 05:14 | 05:14 |
| Quick as a flash, Malcolm Turnbull is over to Melbourne’s 3AW radio. | Quick as a flash, Malcolm Turnbull is over to Melbourne’s 3AW radio. |
| I think we know his line on this now, but he’s doubling down: | I think we know his line on this now, but he’s doubling down: |
| The deal was to process and consider as acceptance as refugees … it was always premised on their very vigorous processing. | The deal was to process and consider as acceptance as refugees … it was always premised on their very vigorous processing. |
| He repeats the assurances from the phone call, from Sean Spicer, the US state department and the US embassy in Canberra, that all would go ahead. | He repeats the assurances from the phone call, from Sean Spicer, the US state department and the US embassy in Canberra, that all would go ahead. |
| We have a clear commitment … it’s been confirmed … we expect the deal will continue. | We have a clear commitment … it’s been confirmed … we expect the deal will continue. |
| Is there a plan B? | Is there a plan B? |
| Turnbull says Australia is always looking for options to resettle people from Nauru or Manus – apart from the option to come to Australia, which is off the table. | Turnbull says Australia is always looking for options to resettle people from Nauru or Manus – apart from the option to come to Australia, which is off the table. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.14am GMT | at 5.14am GMT |
| 5.05am GMT | 5.05am GMT |
| 05:05 | 05:05 |
| And here’s Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy’s analysis of that slightly uncomfortable Turnbull interview: | And here’s Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy’s analysis of that slightly uncomfortable Turnbull interview: |
| Turnbull, in essence, is staring Trump down on @2GBNews We had a deal, you said you'd honour it #auspol | Turnbull, in essence, is staring Trump down on @2GBNews We had a deal, you said you'd honour it #auspol |
| This is not a deal Trump would have done, or he'd regard as a good deal @TurnbullMalcolm says, but a deal is a deal is his point #auspol | This is not a deal Trump would have done, or he'd regard as a good deal @TurnbullMalcolm says, but a deal is a deal is his point #auspol |
| 4.58am GMT | 4.58am GMT |
| 04:58 | 04:58 |
| Turnbull on Trump: summary | Turnbull on Trump: summary |
| Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull once again refused to be drawn on reports that his call with Donald Trump was a fraught one, with the US president reportedly describing it as “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader. | Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull once again refused to be drawn on reports that his call with Donald Trump was a fraught one, with the US president reportedly describing it as “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader. |
| But Turnbull did insist that Trump had not hung up on him: | But Turnbull did insist that Trump had not hung up on him: |
| The report that the president hung up is not correct – the call ended courteously. | The report that the president hung up is not correct – the call ended courteously. |
| Despite a tweet by Trump calling the US-Australian agreement to resettle up to 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Manus island a “dumb deal”, Turnbull said the president would honour the commitment: | Despite a tweet by Trump calling the US-Australian agreement to resettle up to 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Manus island a “dumb deal”, Turnbull said the president would honour the commitment: |
| We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. | We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. |
| Trump himself would not have signed up to such an agreement, the Australian PM conceded: | Trump himself would not have signed up to such an agreement, the Australian PM conceded: |
| This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment. | This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment. |
| Pressed on the Trump tweet that appeared to chuck aside that commitment, Turnbull said: | Pressed on the Trump tweet that appeared to chuck aside that commitment, Turnbull said: |
| Well, that is his tweet. I’m telling you what’s been said to us. | Well, that is his tweet. I’m telling you what’s been said to us. |
| 4.51am GMT | 4.51am GMT |
| 04:51 | 04:51 |
| Officials are working in Washington this week to secure the details of the deal, Turnbull says. | Officials are working in Washington this week to secure the details of the deal, Turnbull says. |
| My job … is to defend our interests. America is our most important ally. We have very frank discussions. | My job … is to defend our interests. America is our most important ally. We have very frank discussions. |
| 4.50am GMT | 4.50am GMT |
| 04:50 | 04:50 |
| Turnbull: Trump tweet doesn't affect deal | Turnbull: Trump tweet doesn't affect deal |
| Turnbull refuses to be drawn on whether Trump described their phone chat as the “worst call ever”, saying he made the case for Australian interests “powerfully” and “persuasively”. | Turnbull refuses to be drawn on whether Trump described their phone chat as the “worst call ever”, saying he made the case for Australian interests “powerfully” and “persuasively”. |
| We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. | We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. |
| He says he doesn’t think Trump’s tweet changes that. | He says he doesn’t think Trump’s tweet changes that. |
| This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment. | This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment. |