Former President Donald Trump ambushed ABC’s Americas president John Lyons on the White House lawn. He rejected any claims of politicisation and accused Lyons of “doing great damage to Australia” during their fiery back and forth. Joe Lyons battled Trump and his administration with a string of tough, biting questions. In his written testimony, he questioned the appropriateness of a sitting president engaging in significant business activities, especially as it relates to Trump’s own dealings.
What transpired in recent weeks after a seemingly innocuous phone call between Trump and new Australian PM Anthony Albanese. During their February 2020 conversation, Trump called Albanese a “good man.” This marked their fourth one-on-one call in September, reflecting a continued dialogue between the two leaders despite the tension surrounding media coverage.
Trump’s fiery remarks came as Lyons inquired about Trump’s business connections, including potential links to cryptocurrency. There was no doubt that Trump was very annoyed by such questions. He intends to raise specific concerns over Lyons’ behaviour directly with Albanese when they meet at this year’s United Nations General Assembly.
“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.” – Donald Trump
This year, Trump and Albanese were scheduled to meet in person at the G7 summit in Canada. Trump called off the meeting upon his return to the U.S. to address escalating tensions within the Iran-Israel conflict. Even with that misstep, there’s much to look forward to in their coming match-up at the U.N. climate meeting.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers responded to the exchange, noting, “I don’t second-guess the decisions taken – the questions asked by journalists whether it is in DC or elsewhere.” His remarks highlight the difficult line that reporters should walk if they choose to quote politicians, especially given the current charged atmosphere.
The relationship between Trump and the media remains strained, with Lyons commenting, “He’s sort of at war at the moment with large parts of the media, that plays very well with his MAGA base.” This continuing dynamic shapes U.S. politics as well. It creates a large impact on international relations, particularly with one of America’s closest allies, Australia.
Albanese were to meet at the U.N. General Assembly. In the meantime, new journalists and political observers from every corner of the globe are watching closely and intently observing his unusual role as a private businessman while being a public servant. What happens in their talks could tell us a great deal about the likely future course of U.S.-Australia relations under the influence of Trump.
