Donald Trump has accused ABC journalist John Lyons of “hurting Australia” during a heated moment at the White House, after being pressed about his business ties as president. The clash happened just days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s planned trip to New York for UN meetings, where a meeting with Trump is expected to take place.
Lyons, the ABC’s Americas editor reporting for Four Corners, asked Trump whether it was appropriate for a sitting president to be so involved in private business activity. “Is it appropriate, President Trump, that a president in office should be engaged in so much business activity?” Lyons said.
Trump responded: “Well, I’m really not. My kids are running the business. You know what the activity — where are you from?”
When Lyons explained he was from the ABC, Trump fired back, “Oh, the Australian — you’re hurting Australia. 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.”
As Lyons attempted to continue, Trump told him, “Quiet.”
While Trump didn’t give a date, the fact that “[Albanese] is coming over to see [him] very soon” lines up with Albanese’s confirmed trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly next week, where a sit-down with Trump is on the cards. The pair were meant to meet in Canada earlier this year, but the meeting was cancelled as Trump returned to the US amid an overseas crisis.
This won’t just be a handshake moment. A range of issues — like the AUKUS submarine pact and US calls for much higher Australian military spending — are expected to be on the table. Albanese recently told press his last call with Trump was “really warm”, confirming the leaders have spoken four times since Trump returned to office.
However, Albanese’s team has not confirmed the exact timing for the likely face-to-face with Trump, but both sides have left the door open for substantive talks in New York next week.
Following the blow-up, the ABC has publicly backed Lyons. “John Lyons is a highly awarded journalist and one of the most experienced and respected reporters in Australia. His job is to ask questions,” said ABC News director Justin Stevens.
The questions about Trump’s business ties also come as Forbes reported a spike in Trump’s estimated wealth since returning to the role, moving from roughly $US4.3 billion to $US7.3 billion over the past year.
Lead image: TikTok / The Age
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