Trump and Turnbull put past tensions behind them with Australian Prime Minister’s White House visit
THE White House was put on lockdown when a car rammed a security barrier shortly after US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke at a joint press conference.
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A CAR has ploughed into a security fence at the White House today during Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s highly-anticipated trip to Washington to meet Donald Trump.
The White House was sent in to lockdown after the female driver crashed her vehicle into a security barrier while Mr Turnbull was inside holding talks with Vice President Mike Pence.
Business leaders and Australian identities including Greg Norman, Anthony Pratt and Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest were also inside during the security incident.
But the dramatic events outside didn’t stop the pomp and pageantry inside, as US President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House for the first time.
The President and Prime Minister met on the South Lawn of the White House about midday US-time (4am AEST) before entering the Oval Office for bilateral talks. First lady Melania Trump and Lucy Turnbull - who both wore navy suits for the occasion - had lunch together while their husbands held bilateral talks.
The two leaders, whose relationship got off to a rocky start, appeared to have put past tensions behind them as the strolled along the colonnade to the Oval Office, where they praised the century-old alliance which was described as “100 years of mateship”.
“The relationship that we have with Australia is a terrific relationship and probably stronger now than ever before, maybe because of our relationship, our friendship,” Trump said.
In a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House, US President Donald Trump said Australia’s tough gun laws wouldn’t work in the US, claiming “gun free spaces” won’t stop mass shootings in schools. Mr. Trump said arming teachers would do more to deter shootings than banning guns.
“We need offensive capability and we are going to be doing something about it,” Trump said.
“They are very different countries with very different sets of problems.”
Standing beside him, Mr Turnbull defended Australia’s strict gun controls - introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre - but refused to weigh into the fierce public debate.
“We are very satisfied with our laws,” Mr Turnbull said.
“But we certainly don’t presume to provide policy or political advice on that matter here. You have an amendment to your Constitution that deals with gun ownership. You have a very, very different history.”
The President also praised Australia’s merit-based immigration system and hinted that the US could “go back in” to the transpacific partnership if offered a better deal. Mr Trump also announced that a new combat ship would be named the USS Canberra.
Mr Turnbull’s White House visit has been classified as “offical” making it the highest-level trip by an Australian leader in more than a decade.
The ceremonial welcome is a sign the Trump Administration is keen to move on from the infamous phone call in which an irate Mr Trump blasted Mr Turnbull over a refugee deal struck between the Australian Government and outgoing Obama Administration. The agreement meant refugees from Nauru and Manus Island would be resettled in the US in a move Mr Trump labelled as “the worst deal ever”. After speaking with other world leaders including including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump said his conversation with the Australian PM was “the worst call by far.”
TRUMP WANTS TO VISIT
Mr Trump vowed to visit Australia saying it’s a “great place” and he’d “love to come”.
The US President made the promise to go Down Under in the Oval Office alongside wife Melania and Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull.
President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House about lunchtime on Friday (Washington time) amid pomp and pageantry.
The President and Prime Minister met on the South Lawn of the White House and posed for a quick photo before entering the Oval Office for bilateral talks.
First Lady Melania Trump and Lucy Turnbull — who both wore navy suits for the occasion — had lunch while their husbands held bilateral talks.
The two leaders, whose relationship got off to a rocky start, appeared to have put past tensions behind them as they greeted each other.
Mr Turnbull’s White House visit has been classified as “official” making it the highest-level trip by an Australian leader in more than a decade.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump were expected to discuss the threat of Islamic State, North Korea, trade and tax policies.
The Prime Minister was also scheduled to meet with Deputy President Mike Pence before the joint press conference with the President.
The ceremonial welcome is a sign the Trump Administration is keen to move on from the infamous phone call in which an irate Mr Trump blasted Mr Turnbull over a refugee deal struck between the Australian Government and outgoing Obama Administration.
The agreement meant refugees from Nauru and Manus Island would be resettled in the US in a move Mr Trump labelled as “the worst deal ever”.
After speaking with other world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump said his conversation with the Australian PM was “the worst call by far.”
Originally published as Trump and Turnbull put past tensions behind them with Australian Prime Minister’s White House visit