Anthony Albanese has been left off Donald Trump’s official meeting schedule at this week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York — meaning Australia’s PM is currently relying on a ‘totally casual bump in’ to get any face time with the US president.
The cool reception comes just days after Australia formally recognised Palestinian statehood, a decision that has already sparked backlash from Washington and may be testing the normally steady ties between Canberra and the White House.
Who Trump is meeting at United Nations General Assembly
The White House confirmed on Tuesday (AEST) that Trump will hold one-on-ones with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. He’ll also squeeze in Argentina’s Javier Milei, plus a roundtable with leaders from Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Albanese, however, doesn’t make the cut. Instead, he’ll have to sidle up during a reception hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday night New York time, alongside dozens of other world leaders all hoping to do the same.
“I’ll be talking with him there,” Albanese told Channel Seven this week. Last week, when pressed on whether he’d actually land a proper sit‑down, he shrugged it off with: “We will meet when we meet.”
A meeting that keeps slipping away
This isn’t the first time an Albanese–Trump meeting has been pencilled in and then rubbed out. Back in June, the pair were slated to chat at the G7 in Canada before Trump cut his trip short to return to Washington because of escalations in the Middle East.
A later White House invite was under discussion, but Trump’s schedule was rewritten again — this time around the memorial service for assassinated far-right activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona.
There’s a chance the meeting could finally take place at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in October. Until then, the PM is left making small talk in a crowded room while Trump’s diary remains fully booked.
All this comes just days after Australia formally recognised Palestinian statehood, a move that has attracted strong blowback from Israel and Washington.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed that Trump “has been very clear: he disagrees with this decision”, telling reporters: “He feels this does not do anything to release the hostages, which is the primary goal right now in Gaza. Frankly, he believes it’s a reward to Hamas. He believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies.”
Albanese stuck by Australia’s position when addressing a special UN conference on the two‑state solution, hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron.
“We’re seeing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfold in Gaza. The idea that Israel is just sitting back waiting to negotiate is not what is happening here … This is Australia playing a role,” the prime minister said.
Trump’s earlier swipe at Australia
For context, Trump flagged Albanese’s UN trip in a roundabout — and very Trump — way when unloading on ABC journo John Lyons earlier this month.
When asked a question about his business dealings, Trump said, “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.”
So while Zelenskyy and von der Leyen get dedicated time with the US president, Albanese’s first face-to-face since Australia recognised Palestine may well end up happening over canapés and cocktails. Not quite the G7 meeting the diplomatic calendar once promised, but in New York this week, that may be as good as it gets.
Lead image: Getty Images
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