Golfing legend Greg Norman acting as Australia’s intermediary with US President Donald Trump as new wave of tariffs loom

A missed phone call on Anthony Albanese’s phone has shed light into how the PM plans to convince Donald Trump to spare Australia from further brutal tariffs.

EXCLUSIVE

Golfing great Greg Norman is once again acting as a go-between for Australia and US President Donald Trump as the clock ticks to the April 2 decision on reciprocal tariffs.

The two men have been close for many years and regularly discuss their passion for golf as neighbours in the southern US state of Florida.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a missed call from Norman on Sunday morning as he was waiting to go on air for the ABC’s Insiders, confirming he was “calling in” all contacts to get Australia exemptions and a better deal.

President Trump has revealed that he “may give a lot of countries breaks” from the reciprocal tariff regime as the world waits for who is in and who is out.

Golfing legend Greg Norman (right) is acting as a go-between for Australia and US as Donald Trump prepares to launch a brutal new round of tariffs. Picture: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Norman (pictured with his interior designer wife Kirsten Kutner) has acted as an intermediary with President Trump before. Picture: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

The US President has billed April 2 as “liberation day” where he is considering sweeping new tariffs beyond the steel and aluminium tariffs that affect Australian exports.

“We’ll have a one-on-one discussion,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“We are putting Australia’s case. Tariffs are an increase in price for the purchases of the goods and services, so they impose increased costs on American buyers.

“We believe in free and fair trade. The US enjoys a trade surplus with Australia. We are pointing that out very clearly.”

During Mr Trump’s first presidential term, Norman – who has a close relationship with the golf-mad US President– played a key role in connecting then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the president before Australia secured a tariff exemption.

Norman and the golf-mad President have a very close relationship. The Aussie legend previously revealed that Mr Trump vowed to make him a US citizen if elected again. Picture: Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images

“If I can give one tiny bit of help that can help going forward between our two nations, I would do it,” Mr Norman said last month after being formally appointed as a board member for the organising committee of the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane.

“I’ve done it in the past, I would do it again.”

“I do know he’s very aware” of AUKUS,” Mr Norman added.

“He understands the extremely tight connection between Australia and the US [which] I call big brother-little brother, that’s how I worded it with him. And I said the importance of that has been decades and decades old, and it’s not going to go anywhere.”

The man known as the Great White Shark has previously described the US President as “a breath of fresh air” for America because of the business prowess he brings to politics.

Norman played a key role in securing Australia’s tariff exemption in 2018, connecting then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (above) with Trump. Picture: AAP Image/ Lukas Coch

Norman, who lives in Florida, previously revealed that Mr Trump wanted to make him a US citizen.

“We played golf just before he got elected, and he said: ‘If I get elected, I’m going to give you a citizenship’,” he said.

“A lot of people ask me questions about how Trump is doing different relationships, and I say: ‘Take emotion out of your thoughts. Take a look at the value of what’s happening between the two countries.

“And if you understand the true value between the two countries, then you might have a different opinion and a different understanding.”

Norman has previously hinted he was called upon to help set up a meeting between the President and Australia’s ambassador Kevin Rudd.

“If I can just give one little bit of information to help two people get together, then I’m so proud to be able to do that,” Mr Norman told a dinner in Washington earlier this year.

Mr Albaneses aid he expected to have a one-on-one discussion with Trump before “liberation day” this week - when new reciprocal tariffs will come into effect. Picture: Jason Edwards/NewsWire

After Mr Trump won the US election in 2016, Norman helped set up a phone call between then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the incoming president.

“In diplomacy and politics you use lots of networks and all I can say is we have great networks, great contacts and Greg Norman is a great Australian,” Mr Turnbull said.

“One of our greatest assets is the millions of Australians who live overseas. Greg Norman is one of them. He has been a great help.”

At the time, Norman said it was a pleasure and an honour to facilitate the connection between the Prime Minister and Mr Trump, at the request of Australia’s ambassador Joe Hockey.

“I have great respect for both men who have been voted in by the people of their respective countries and I am fortunate enough to call Mr Trump a friend, so I was happy to put them in touch to further the incredible long-standing relationship the two countries have experienced,” he said.

Originally published as Golfing legend Greg Norman acting as Australia’s intermediary with US President Donald Trump as new wave of tariffs loom