Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed he will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on October 20, brushing aside questions about the deep political differences between the two leaders. Speaking to reporters at the UN in New York, Albanese said the meeting had been “agreed some time ago” and reaffirmed during a recent phone call.
The long-awaited summit comes nearly a year after Trump’s return to the presidency, amid criticism from Australia’s opposition. Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O’Brien called the delay “embarrassing” and a sign of a “serious breakdown” in ties with Canberra’s most important ally, though he welcomed the confirmation of the meeting.
Asked whether he feared being berated in the Oval Office, Albanese responded calmly: “We have a good relationship, we’ve always had respectful calls, and I expect the meeting to be very constructive.” He refused to preview the full agenda but is expected to discuss trade, the Middle East, and regional security.
A formal sideline meeting in New York this week did not happen, as Trump was in the city for just one day focused on Middle East peace talks. Still, the two leaders are likely to have an informal exchange during a Trump-hosted forum later today.
Albanese also addressed questions about an April remark that he did not have Trump’s phone number, clarifying it was “a joke” and emphasizing that calls between world leaders are arranged officially, not via personal mobiles.
Despite differences on foreign policy and climate issues, Albanese stressed that the US-Australia partnership remains strong. Australia still enjoys the lowest baseline US tariff rate of any country, at 10 percent—a fact seen as strategically important for the alliance.
