US President Donald Trump on Wednesday clashed with an Australian journalist after being questioned about his personal business dealings while serving as the POTUS. Trump accused the journalist of “hurting Australia” and warning he would “complain” about him to Anthony Albanese.The tense exchange took place on the White House lawn as Trump prepared to depart for the UK. John Lyons, the ABC’s Americas editor, asked the president how much wealthier he had become since returning to the Oval Office in January, pointing out that he is considered the richest man to ever hold the presidency.“I don’t know,” Trump replied, insisting that his children run the Trump Organisation. “Most of the deals that I’ve made were made before. This is what I’ve done for a life. I’ve built buildings.” He then turned sharply on Lyons, saying: “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 pressed with another question, Trump raised his finger to his lips and said: “Quiet.”The confrontation inadvertently confirmed that Trump and Albanese will meet for the first time face-to-face during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, after months of uncertainty. The pair’s earlier attempt at talks collapsed when Trump cut short his trip to the G20 summit in June. Albanese said this week that he expects to see Trump at a reception and other forums in the months ahead.The clash comes against a backdrop of growing strain in US-Australia relations. The Trump administration has launched a review of the £176bn Aukus submarine deal and imposed a 10% tariff on Australian exports, which Albanese described as “not the act of a friend.” Reports suggest Washington is also pressuring Canberra to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.Lyons later defended his line of questioning, calling it “a perfectly normal thing to do.” He told the ABC his enquiries were based on research and not asked in an abusive way. “For me, it was a perfectly normal thing to do to ask questions that I don’t think were provocative,” he said, describing the exchange as “a good bit of television.”
