President Donald Trump has accused an Australian journalist of “hurting Australia” during a brief exchange over his business dealings since returning to office.
The incident occurred when John Lyons of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) asked Trump how much wealthier he had become since resuming the presidency in January. Trump responded, “I don’t know,” noting that his children manage the family businesses. He then added, “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now, and they want to get along with me.”
Trump indicated he would soon meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying, “I’m going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone.” When Lyons attempted to ask a follow-up question, Trump raised a finger to his lips, said “quiet,” and moved on to speak with another journalist.
The exchange comes as Albanese has sought a meeting with Trump after a planned discussion at the G20 summit in June was canceled when Trump left early to address the conflict in the Middle East. Albanese is expected to meet Trump in New York next week during the UN General Assembly. “He’s hosting a reception on Tuesday night of next week. And as well, we’ll see each other at various forums that are taking place between now and the end of the year,” Albanese told ABC Radio.
Tensions in U.S.-Australia relations have risen recently, partly due to a review of the Aukus submarine deal, a £176 billion ($239 billion; A$368 billion) pact signed in 2021 between the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed a tariff of at least 10% on all Australian exports, which Albanese described as “not the act of a friend.”
Lyons responded to Trump’s comments by calling it “an absurd notion” that polite, legitimate questions could harm relations between longtime allies. He emphasized that his inquiries were fair, well-researched, and not provocative. The ABC said the questions were part of an investigation by its Four Corners program into Trump’s business activities since returning to office.
The exchange quickly drew attention online, with a White House-affiliated social media post captioning the clip: Trump “smacks down a rude foreign Fake News loser.”
