Donald Trump has reportedly barred the ABC from attending a press conference in the UK this week, after a fiery clash in Washington between the US president and the broadcaster’s Americas editor, John Lyons, over Trump’s business interests while in office.
Lyons, who is reporting for Four Corners, angered Trump on Tuesday when he asked how much wealthier he had become since beginning his second term in January, and whether it was appropriate for the president to continue business activity while in office.
Trump shot back that his children were running his company, accused Lyons of “hurting Australia”, and threatened to raise the matter with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when the two leaders next meet.
The exchange escalated further when the White House’s official “Rapid Response 47” account published a Fox News clip of the moment, labelling Lyons a “foreign fake news loser” on X.
Today, Guardian Australia reported the ABC’s London bureau was informed its accreditation for Trump’s joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers had been withdrawn, officially for “capacity reasons”. Only 15 international outlets were allocated access. Sources stressed the ABC still retains its White House credentials.
The move has drawn widespread condemnation from Australian politicians and media organisations. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Trump of trying to “bully” the press, urging Albanese to defend Australian journalists.
ABC news director Justin Stevens said Lyons had the broadcaster’s “full support”.
“John Lyons is a highly awarded journalist and one of the most experienced and respected reporters in Australia,” he said. “His job is to ask questions.”
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) released a statement on Instagram backing Lyons and warning that Trump’s attacks signalled “a significant and growing threat to press freedom”.
“ABC journalists have an obligation to our audience to ask tough questions of political leaders right around the world. They should not face threats for doing their job,” the union wrote.
Trump’s fraught relationship with the press has long been marked by hostility and selective access. American outlets themselves have been accused of soft-pedalling at press conferences to avoid being frozen out. But this appears to mark the first instance of an Australian journalist being directly targeted.
Monica Attard, UTS head of journalism and a former Media Watch host, told Crikey that Lyons’ line of questioning was “perfectly legitimate” and in the public interest. On Trump’s apparent threat to raise the journalist in front of Albanese, Attard said it was standard behaviour from the president.
Trump is currently in the UK on a state visit that includes lunch with Starmer before Thursday’s press conference. The ABC, meanwhile, says Lyons will continue reporting on the president’s activities undeterred.
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