SYDNEY: Australia's Prime Minister insists that his relationship with President Donald Trump is "warm"
despite transcripts of a heated conversation in which the leaders sparred over a refugee deal.
The January phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was widely reported upon at the time. But the transcripts published today by The Washington Post offered new details into the conversation. According to the transcript, Trump told Turnbull the agreement was "stupid," "disgusting" and "horrible."
Today, Turnbull told reporters the discussion had been courteous and frank and said his relationship with Trump was "warm."
Under the Obama-era refugee deal, the United States will take up to 1,250 refugees that Australia houses in detention camps on the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.