Anthony Albanese has met Donald Trump face-to-face after the US president used his UN speech to ridicule those buying into a “global warming hoax”, and criticised Australia for backing a Palestinian state.
In a tense atmosphere in New York, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met US President Donald Trump in person for the first time, during a welcome reception at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Their main meeting at the White House is scheduled for October 20.
The event followed Trump’s nearly hour-long UN address—far exceeding his 15-minute slot—in which he branded climate change a “global hoax” and criticised countries, including Australia, for supporting recognition of a Palestinian state. Trump accused the United Nations of inaction and warned Europe of “devastating consequences” from open-border policies and reliance on renewable energy.
Albanese, accompanied by his fiancée Jodie Haydon, Ambassador Kevin Rudd, and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, politely applauded at the end of the speech, avoiding public confrontation. Speaking later, he stressed his role was “to represent Australia’s national interest” and that Trump was “entitled to express his views.”
The upcoming Washington visit is seen as pivotal for the AUKUS alliance and Australia’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines. Albanese declined to reveal specific agreements, emphasising the need for discretion in diplomacy. His four-day presence at the UN underscores Australia’s efforts to strengthen its global role amid tensions stirred by Trump’s remarks.
