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Some 243 days after United States President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has finally met him face-to-face.
At the salubrious Lotte Palace Hotel in New York, Trump hosted more than 100 world leaders and government representatives gathered for an official reception during the United Nations General Assembly leaders’ week.
A grinning selfie of the pair, snapped by Albanese, was posted online to mark the occasion.
While Albanese said he was reluctant to broadcast private discussions, he described the engagement as a “warm and engaging chat”.
Despite the on-again, off-again nature of plans for the pair to meet, Albanese maintains he’s always been confident of securing a chance for more in-depth talks.
SBS News earlier bumped into Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd, on the streets of New York.
He had been facing criticism from the federal Opposition over his ability to secure talks with Trump.
“I’m doing my job and I’ll continue to do my job,” Rudd said with a smile.
At that stage, a meeting had just been settled, but the details had not been made public.
The initial plan to meet at June’s Group of 7 leaders meeting in Canada was cancelled after Trump left early to address urgent developments in the Middle East.
This week in New York was another potential opportunity, but Albanese was left off the White House schedule.
Now, Albanese looks set to embark on a third North America trip in five months.
Opposition senator Bridget McKenzie remains sceptical about whether the meeting will eventuate.
“Let’s not hold our breath because we’ve been here before,” she said.
Trump on Wednesday told the UN General Assembly renewables were a “joke”, described green energy as a “scam” and denigrated wind turbines as “pathetic”.
Albanese chose his words carefully when asked to comment on Trump’s opinions on the transition to net zero as Australia embarks on a major program of green investment.
“He’s entitled to give that speech and put his views,” Albanese said.
Perhaps a window into the meeting to come, where there are many matters where the leaders of Australia and the nation’s closest security ally will have to find a way to agree to disagree.
