Face of the Day

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump appeared to hit it off as they finally met in person, but a seriously awkward moment came when the president responded to a question about past remarks from Australia’s US ambassador, Kevin Rudd, on social media, which included calling Trump a “village idiot”.

Reporter: “There’s been some concern in Australia it’s taken nine months to get this meeting. Have you had any concerns with this administration? With its stance on Palestine, climate change or even things the Australian ambassador has said about you in the past?”

Trump: “I don’t know anything about him. If he said bad, then maybe he’d like to apologise? Did an ambassador say something bad about me? Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.

“Where is he? Is he still working for you?”

Albanese pointed to Rudd on the opposite side of the table, and Rudd said his comments – in which he also called Trump “a traitor to the West” – came before he was in his current position as Australia’s US envoy.

Trump: “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”

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