Malcolm Turnbull memoir: Donald Trump’s lurch from friend to foe and back

During Malcolm Turnbull’s turbulent time as PM, few episodes were as volatile as his dealings with then new US President Donald Trump.

Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump at the White House in Washington in 2018. Picture: Nathan Edwards

During Malcolm Turnbull’s turbulent time as prime minister, few episodes were as volatile as his dealings with America’s then new President Donald Trump.

Turnbull lurched from friend to foe and then back to friend with the world’s most powerful man, with Australia’s most important alliance wobbling precariously at times as a result.

It started well when Turnbull, using a phone number given by golfing great Greg Norman, called Trump to congratulate him on his unexpected election victory over Hillary Clinton in November 2016.

That short, friendly chat was quickly forgotten in late January 2017 when Turnbull’s first official call with the newly inaugurated Trump crumbled into a heated argument over the refugee deal for the US to accept refugees from Nauru and Manus Island.

Trump berated Turnbull over the deal struck with former president Barack Obama, accusing him of wanting to export “the next Boston bombers” to the US.

Turnbull stood his ground during the call, surprising and angering the President. Although Turnbull eventually persuaded Trump to honour the refugee agreement, the call was damaging.

Turnbull realised Trump had very little notion of the history and strength of the US-Australia alliance, or the close intelligence and military ties between the nations.

Joe Hockey has said previously that Turnbull was “quite shaken” by the fractious conversation while Trump said at the time it was “the worst call by far” with a foreign leader.

Both Canberra and the White House knew the alliance was more important than any personal spat between Turnbull and Trump and plans were hatched for a way to recover their relationship.

Eventually it was agreed Turnbull and wife Lucy and Trump and first lady Melania could meet in New York on the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid for the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Coral Sea in May 2017.

“We had every bit of firepower we could find,” Hockey told The Australia in an interview last year. “We had Rupert Murdoch introducing the President, Greg Norman speaking, Anthony Pratt announcing a major billion-dollar plant and [then US Pacific commander] Admiral Harry Harris giving an incredible speech.”

Turnbull and Trump wanted to make amends for their dispute. Both were generous in praise for the other, giving rise to perhaps not a friendship but a workable, warm professional relationship.

Yet bumps were still to come.

The White House and Trump were unimpressed by a leaked video of Turnbull mimicking the President and joking about his poll numbers, fake news and alleged links to Russia in June 2017. And Trump was agitated by then high commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer’s role in triggering the Russia investigation by reporting his 2016 meeting with Trump aide George Papadopoulos.

By February 2018, the personal relationship between Trump and Turnbull had improved and was a major factor in the decision by Trump in June 2018 to make Australia one of few countries exempt from steel and aluminium tariffs.

Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia