I love Australia, Trump says

International Desk: Donald Trump called his relationship with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull "fantastic" following a meeting in New York.

It is their first encounter since an acrimonious phone call in February.

"We get along great. We have a fantastic relationship, I love Australia, I always have," a news agency quoted Mr Trump as saying.

Protesters also gathered in Mr Trump's home city, the first time he has returned there since his inauguration.

Mr Trump said the two leaders had "reaffirmed ties" between their two countries, and discussed economic, trade, and national security co-operation, as well as migration issues.

They met on the USS Intrepid, a WW2-era aircraft carrier that was involved in the war against Japan in the Pacific.

Relations between the two leaders were strained over President Trump's reluctance to honour a deal to accept up to 1,200 refugees from Australian detention camps.

Mr Trump had reportedly said his February call on the issue was his "worst" that day, and had previously tweeted that the refugee resettlement agreement was a "dumb deal".

But the US later said it would honour the agreement made by the Obama administration.
Travelling through New York in a limousine is nothing new to Donald Trump. But never before has he done so with the presidential seal on the side of the car. He had not set foot in New York for 107 days, the longest absence from his native city at any stage of his life.

Source: Agencies



Risingbd/May 5, 2017/Mukul