Trump in Fiery Clash With ABC Journalist Ahead of Albanese Meeting
So here’s what happened. President Donald Trump has had a heated exchange with Australian journalist John Lyons from the ABC, and it’s making headlines just as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet him in New York. The moment unfolded on the White House lawn, when Trump was answering questions from reporters. Lyons asked him how much wealthier he had become since stepping back into the Oval Office for his second term. Now, Trump brushed it off by saying he didn’t really know, pointing out that his children are the ones running the Trump Organization these days, and most of the deals he had made were from earlier in his career. He added, almost proudly, that building things had been his life’s work.
But the exchange escalated quickly. Lyons pressed him further, asking whether it was appropriate for a sitting president to still have personal business activities going on while in office. That’s when Trump turned the focus back on Lyons himself. After clarifying that his children were handling the business, he asked Lyons where he was from. When Lyons said he was with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Four Corners program, Trump fired back that by asking such questions, Lyons was actually “hurting Australia.”
Also Read:- Messi Set to Face Seattle in Heated MLS Rematch
- Stacey Solomon Left Stunned by Joe Swash’s Valentine Surprise Gone Wrong
Trump accused him of setting a bad tone, even warning that he would bring it up when meeting Albanese, suggesting it could damage relations. At one point, Trump even told Lyons to “quiet,” dismissing the line of questioning as unfair. The White House later doubled down, posting a clip of the exchange online and framing it as Trump putting a “rude foreign Fake News loser” in his place.
Lyons, for his part, didn’t let it pass quietly. On air, he said it was absurd for the president to suggest that a few legitimate questions could harm ties between the US and Australia. He defended his role as a journalist, saying it’s his job to hold leaders to account, and pointed out that questions asked politely and fairly shouldn’t be treated as hostile. The ABC has since backed him fully, with its news director describing Lyons as one of the most experienced and respected reporters in the country.
This flare-up comes at a very sensitive time. Albanese has been eager to secure a proper sit-down with Trump since an earlier meeting was abruptly canceled at the G20. Now, with both leaders set to be in New York for the UN General Assembly, the talks are expected to cover some big-ticket issues. High on the list are the Aukus submarine deal, which is under review, and Trump’s demands that Australia lift its defense spending to as much as 3.5% of GDP—a huge jump from current levels.
So, the clash with Lyons wasn’t just a sharp exchange with a reporter. It also highlighted Trump’s combative style with the press and his willingness to tie tough questioning to broader diplomatic consequences. And all of this is happening right as Albanese prepares for what could be a very significant and potentially tense first face-to-face with the US president.
Read More:
0 Comments