Advertisement

Donald Trump postpones Malcolm Turnbull meeting

Malcolm Turnbull met Admiral Harry Harris, commander of US Pacific Command. ahead of his delayed talks with Donald Trump.

Malcolm Turnbull met Admiral Harry Harris, commander of US Pacific Command. ahead of his delayed talks with Donald Trump. Photo: AP

President Donald Trump missed his scheduled bilateral New York meeting with Malcolm Turnbull after changing his schedule at the last minute.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to hold his first face-to-face meeting with the President at 4pm Thursday local time (6am Friday AEST) at the upscale Peninsula Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

A late itinerary change issued by the White House meant Mr Trump was to arrive in New York at 6.15pm local time, with his meeting with Mr Turnbull pushed back to 7.15pm (9.15am AEST).

Mr Trump’s first presidential visit to his New York home was delayed by protracted voting in the US House of Representatives on a bill to replace Obamacare, which narrowly passed Friday morning (AEST).

The venue for the talks was also shifted to the decommissioned USS Intrepid aircraft carrier docked on the Hudson River as part of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, where the pair were scheduled to attend a 7.45pm ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the WWII Battle of the Coral Sea.

The schedule change leaves just 30 minutes for the leaders to discuss a range of issues including tensions on the Korean Peninsula, relations with China and Australia’s commitment to allied military involvement in the Middle East.

The meeting was also designed to demonstrate the strength of the US-Australian alliance after the now-infamous ill-tempered phone call between Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump in January, which the President reportedly cut short early.

Mr Turnbull and President Trump were scheduled to speak to a gathering of 700 guests – including 30 Australian and US ex-servicemen – at a dinner as part of the Coral Sea commemorations.

Mr Trump was then due to travel to his country home at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, while Mr Turnbull was expected to leave the US on Friday to be in Australia in the lead-up to the May 9 federal budget.

January’s phone conversation between the two leaders was reportedly marred by Mr Trump’s anger over the US refugee resettlement deal negotiated with his predecessor Barack Obama.

Malcolm turnbull in new york

The PM walked New York’s streets surrounded by secret service agents. Photo: AP 

 

Mr Turnbull has meanwhile been kept busy since arriving in New York yesterday, receiving a tour of the New York Police Department’s state-of-the-art Joint Terrorism Taskforce and operations centre on Thursday morning local time.

The Prime Minister then walked several blocks on public streets, surrounded by a ring of Secret Service officers, to a meeting with Admiral Harry Harris, commander of US Pacific Command.

Mr Trump’s return to New York is expected to be a rowdy one, with thousands of protesters expected to gather near is appearances.

 

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.