This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jun/16/i-dont-think-anybody-cares-about-that-white-house-brushes-off-turnbulls-jokes-about-trump
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| White House brushes off Turnbull's jokes about Trump | White House brushes off Turnbull's jokes about Trump |
| (1 day later) | |
| Australian PM’s off-the-record speech poked fun at the president but US official says: ‘I don’t think anyone cares about that’ | |
| Reuters and Australian Associated Press | |
| Fri 16 Jun 2017 01.10 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 9 Feb 2018 18.42 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| The White House brushed off news of a leaked video of Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull making fun of Donald Trump and alluding to ties with Russia on Thursday. | The White House brushed off news of a leaked video of Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull making fun of Donald Trump and alluding to ties with Russia on Thursday. |
| “I don’t think anybody cares about that,” a senior White House official said of Turnbull’s remarks at a news media ball at Parliament House in Canberra late on Wednesday that was supposed to have been off the record. | “I don’t think anybody cares about that,” a senior White House official said of Turnbull’s remarks at a news media ball at Parliament House in Canberra late on Wednesday that was supposed to have been off the record. |
| “The Donald and I ... we are winning in the polls. We are! Not the fake polls. We are winning in the real polls. You know, the online polls. They are so easy to win,” Turnbull said in the leaked recording, he adding: “I have this Russian guy …” | “The Donald and I ... we are winning in the polls. We are! Not the fake polls. We are winning in the real polls. You know, the online polls. They are so easy to win,” Turnbull said in the leaked recording, he adding: “I have this Russian guy …” |
| Veteran Channel Nine political editor Laurie Oakes broadcast the recording, saying that because he had not been at the event, he was not bound by the confidentiality rule. Some video of the event appeared on Instagram. | Veteran Channel Nine political editor Laurie Oakes broadcast the recording, saying that because he had not been at the event, he was not bound by the confidentiality rule. Some video of the event appeared on Instagram. |
| Turnbull, who had a famously frosty first telephone call with Trump early this year, later told the 3AW radio station the leak was a breach of protocol, but his “affectionately lighthearted” speech was a “good-humoured roast” in which he was the butt of his own jokes. | Turnbull, who had a famously frosty first telephone call with Trump early this year, later told the 3AW radio station the leak was a breach of protocol, but his “affectionately lighthearted” speech was a “good-humoured roast” in which he was the butt of his own jokes. |
| The US embassy in Canberra said it understood the Mid-Winter Ball was the equivalent of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, at which the US media and president traditionally rib each other. | The US embassy in Canberra said it understood the Mid-Winter Ball was the equivalent of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, at which the US media and president traditionally rib each other. |
| “We take this with the good humour that was intended,” the embassy said. | “We take this with the good humour that was intended,” the embassy said. |
| The White House official, who asked to not be identified, referred to a “good” first face-to face meeting between the US president and Turnbull in New York last month at which they declared that they “get along great”. | The White House official, who asked to not be identified, referred to a “good” first face-to face meeting between the US president and Turnbull in New York last month at which they declared that they “get along great”. |
| That was not the case when Turnbull became one of the first foreign leaders Trump spoke to after taking office on 20 January. | That was not the case when Turnbull became one of the first foreign leaders Trump spoke to after taking office on 20 January. |
| During their phone call, Trump became irritated about an agreement made by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, to accept as many as 1,250 refugees held in Australian processing centres on remote Pacific islands. | During their phone call, Trump became irritated about an agreement made by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, to accept as many as 1,250 refugees held in Australian processing centres on remote Pacific islands. |
| Trump broke off what was supposed to be an hour-long call after 25 minutes and later tweeted that the refugee agreement was “dumb.” | Trump broke off what was supposed to be an hour-long call after 25 minutes and later tweeted that the refugee agreement was “dumb.” |
| The US vice-president, Mike Pence, visited Australia in April and said that while Trump was not happy about the refugee agreement, the United States would honour it. | The US vice-president, Mike Pence, visited Australia in April and said that while Trump was not happy about the refugee agreement, the United States would honour it. |
| On Friday the Australian finance minister, Mathias Cormann, pointed the finger of blame over the leaked recording at the opposition leader. “Bill Shorten will have to clarify today whether it’s true that his office was behind leaking those secret recordings and, if so why they thought that was a good idea to do so,” he told Sky News on Friday. | On Friday the Australian finance minister, Mathias Cormann, pointed the finger of blame over the leaked recording at the opposition leader. “Bill Shorten will have to clarify today whether it’s true that his office was behind leaking those secret recordings and, if so why they thought that was a good idea to do so,” he told Sky News on Friday. |
| The suggestion was quickly dismissed by the Labor leader’s office, which released a statement saying: “This is completely wrong, Senator Cormann should apologise for this disgraceful lie.” | The suggestion was quickly dismissed by the Labor leader’s office, which released a statement saying: “This is completely wrong, Senator Cormann should apologise for this disgraceful lie.” |
| In his speech, Turnbull made fun of his May meeting with the president in New York. “It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful putting-me-at-ease ever,” he joked. | In his speech, Turnbull made fun of his May meeting with the president in New York. “It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful putting-me-at-ease ever,” he joked. |
| The prime minister said he wasn’t mocking the president. “It was more good-natured than that … It’s a stressful business politics, you’ve got to have fun.” | The prime minister said he wasn’t mocking the president. “It was more good-natured than that … It’s a stressful business politics, you’ve got to have fun.” |
| Australia’s ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, also is making light of the issue. “The administration hasn’t rung us up and I haven’t been hauled into the White House and sent back to Australia so far as I’m aware,” he told US media. “Although, I saw a series of black cars outside.” | Australia’s ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, also is making light of the issue. “The administration hasn’t rung us up and I haven’t been hauled into the White House and sent back to Australia so far as I’m aware,” he told US media. “Although, I saw a series of black cars outside.” |
| Malcolm Turnbull | |
| Donald Trump | |
| Australian politics | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |