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Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull agreed with President Trump and added Mrs Merkel’s decision not to impose stricter border controls was “one of the big factors in the Brexit vote”.

In leaked transcripts of calls made by President Trump to foreign leaders during his first few days in office, the pair agree that “Germany is a mess” because of Mrs Merkel’s migrant policy.

President Trump said to Mr Turnbull: “Look at what has happened in Germany. Look at what is happening in these countries. These people are crazy to let this happen. I spoke to Merkel today, and believe me, she wishes she did not do it. Germany is a mess because of what happened.”

Mr Turnbull responded: “I agree with you, letting one million Syrians walk into their country. It was one of the big factors in the Brexit vote, frankly.”