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Donald Trump warned he would raise the matter with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
US President Donald Trump. (AFP photo)
US President Donald Trump lashed out at an Australian journalist during his state visit to the UK, accusing him of “hurting Australia” after being asked about his business dealings while in office. John Lyons from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) asked Donald Trump how much wealthier he had become since returning to the White House in January.
“I don’t know,” Donald Trump replied, insisting that his children handled the businesses. He then warned he would raise the matter with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying, “You set a very bad tone. You’re hurting Australia very much.”
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When John Lyons attempted a follow-up, Donald Trump held a finger to his lips, said “quiet,” and moved on to another journalist.
Following this, ABC said it had been informed by the UK prime minister’s press office that it would no longer have a space at a joint news conference between Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers, citing “logistical reasons.” The broadcaster stressed there was “no indication” this was connected to John Lyons’ line of questioning. ABC remains accredited to attend Donald Trump’s visit to Chequers.
John Lyons later told the ABC that it was an “absurd notion” to suggest his questions had harmed bilateral ties. He said, “For me, it was a perfectly normal thing to do- to ask questions that I don’t think were provocative. They were fair, based on research and not asked in an abusive way.”
Donald Trump, Anthony Albanese And Strained Ties
The Australian leader has been pushing for a meeting with Donald Trump for months, after scheduled talks at the G20 summit in June were abruptly cancelled when the US President left early to address the Middle East crisis. Anthony Albanese has since confirmed he will see Donald Trump next week in New York at the UN General Assembly.
Relations between the US and Australia have grown tense since the Donald Trump administration launched a review of Aukus, the £176bn ($239bn; A$368bn) submarine pact signed in 2021. In April, Washington also imposed a 10% tariff on Australian exports, which Albanese criticised as “not the act of a friend.”
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
September 18, 2025, 17:32 IST
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