Trump and Albo’s ‘perfect’ friendship revealed in first phone call

Details of the first phone call between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and future President Donald Trump have been revealed following the landmark US election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had his first phone call with Donald Trump since the former Republican president secured re-election to the Whitehouse this week, revealing a very interesting development in their relationship.

The leaders spoke on the phone to each other about 10am Thursday morning, with the two leaders addressing important topics in the Australia-US relationship.

According to Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell, Mr Trump told the Prime Minister the relationship was an important one.

“We are going to be perfect friends,” Mr Trump told Mr Albanese.

President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday morning. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

In the phone call, Mr Albanese raised the topic of the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership, and following speculation of possible “heavy-handed” tariffs under a Trump administration, Mr Albanese also highlighted the US had a trade surplus with Australia.

During the election campaign, Mr Trump promised to impose a tariff of up to 60 per cent on goods from China.

While it’s not known whether the two leaders discussed China specifically during the call, it’s understood Mr Albanese and Mr Trump addressed the defence and security relationship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed AUKUS and the US’ trade surplus with Australia in the phone call. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

This was the first phone call between the leaders since the election in early November, which comes amid concerns about Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, who has made critical comments about the President-elect in since-deleted social media posts.

Mr Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Defence Industry Minster Pat Conroy have engaged with Republican figures in the lead-up to the 2024 election.

During his trip to Washington in October 2023, the Prime Minister met with 50 Republican congress members, as well as Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.

Mr Albanese will travel to the G20 and APEC summits in South America on Wednesday, where he will join incumbent president Joe Biden.

The leaders will likely discuss navigating diplomatic relations under a Trump administration.

Originally published as Trump and Albo’s ‘perfect’ friendship revealed in first phone call