Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed Friday President Trump’s statement that the media played up reports that the two national leaders initially did not get along in a January phone call.
“The reporting was wildly exaggerated, as the president observed there last night and as he’s observed in the past. We are very close friends, Australians and Americans,” Turnbull told Fox News host Bret Baier. “The call was courteous. It was frank and forthright, as you would expect, between very good friends. That’s how good friends should talk to each other.”
On Jan. 28, Trump and Turnbull spoke by phone for what was supposed to be 25 minutes. Instead, they talked for an hour as Trump told Turnbull he would not honor former President Barack Obama’s deal to take in 1,250 refugees. Trump even told Turnbull that “this was the worst call by far.” Those reports are now in question.
Earlier this week, Trump slammed reporters who “exaggerated that call.”
“You exaggerated that call,” Trump said. “That was a big exaggeration. We had a great call. We’re not babies but we had a great call.”
Turnbull also spoke just as highly about his meeting with Trump in New York City on Thursday.
“And the president and I had our first meeting together in person. We have a lot of friends in common. And we have similar backgrounds in business and we got on so well,” Turnbull said.
