President Trump congratulated newly installed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison late Friday, after Malcolm Turnbull was ousted by party rivals.
“Congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!” Trump tweeted.
Congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018
Turnbull’s departure was the sixth change in Australian leadership in 11 years.
Morrison, the country’s former treasurer, has been a staunch supporter of the controversial policy to detain in offshore camps immigrants who tried to arrive in Australia by boat.
Trump clashed with Turnbull last year during a contentious phone call about immigration-related issues, telling him that he had a better call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a transcript obtained by the Washington Post.
At issue was whether Trump would stick to an agreement made by the Obama administration to resettle 1,250 refugees in the U.S. after Australia refused to accept them.
“I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made,” Trump said. “As far as I am concerned, that is enough … I have had it,” Trump told Turnbull.
