US NY: Trump Labels Negative Phone Call With Turnbull as Exaggerated and 'Fake News' May 04

US NY: Trump Labels Negative Phone Call With Turnbull as Exaggerated and 'Fake News' May 04

OPINION

NO doubt it is an insult, the sort you toss out recklessly and indulgently.

US President Donald Trump has put a single legislative victory ahead of giving his blessing and attention to a close, 75-year relationship with Australia.

Mr Trump has kept Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull waiting in New York while he whoops it up in Washington over the passage in the House of Representatives of legislation to abolish the health care scheme of predecessor Barack Obama.

It’s been a long time between wins in the past 114 days, and rubbing Mr Obama’s face in the Reps vote must have been a delicious moment for the President.

But it was also a comment on the weight he gives to the engagement with Australia.

Mr Trump could direct a missile strike on Syria while making sure President Xi of China enjoyed the dessert cake at Mar-a-Lago.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe had lots of quality golf time as well as a long, closed-door session in the Oval Office.

Malcolm Turnbull, who timed his trip to match the schedule set by the President, will get briefings by security officials, a New York dinner, and maybe just half an hour sitting knee-to-knee with the President in private talks.

And all the while he will be fretting over the Budget plans he left behind in Canberra, and the mischief bring caused by Tony Abbott and others.

And he will have to be preparing for accusations back home that Australia is no longer an important partner with the US.

The best light to put on their awkward situation is that Mr Trump considers ties to Australia as durable, our thinking in synch, that the relationship can survive a little rescheduling.

The worst view is he considers Australia surplus to his global needs and is possibly expendable.

And then there is that “worst ever” agreement on settling refugees locked in by President Obama. Maybe he doesn’t want to be reminded of the Obama ghost he partly exorcised in Congress today.

Mr Trump eventually boarded Air Force One with daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner — the full charm artillery.

But will that be enough?