Malcolm Turnbull describes conversations with Trump as ‘frank and forthright’

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has talked about how his conversations with US President Donald Trump are going on, saying they have been constructive, frank and forthright. The Australian leader said his US counterpart has a “very big personality” with a “very big job.”

In an interview with Bloomberg Television on Tuesday, Turnbull dished that he and the US president had a number of conversations now, aside from the two leaders’ controversial phone call regarding a refugee resettlement plan agreed to by former US President Barack Obama. Trump has earlier called the agreement a “dumb deal.” “We pursue our national interest methodically, calmly, consistently, we make our case very frankly, and forthrightly, when we’re speaking to our American friends,” Turnbull said.

Turnbull clarified that his dealing with the US government has not changed with the election of its new president. During the 75th anniversary of the Darwin raids last week, the prime minister assured that Australia and the US will continue to serve shoulder to shoulder.

As for his infamous phone call with Trump, Turnbull admitted that he was both surprised and disappointed that details of their conversation have leaked. But the Aussie leader has denied reports that Trump hung up on him.

Following the clarification, Trump took to Twitter to thank his Australian counterpart for telling the truth about their "very civil conversation.” “Thank you to Prime Minister of Australia for telling the truth about our very civil conversation that FAKE NEWS media lied about. Very nice!” the president wrote.

Although the two leaders seem to have better conversations after their controversial phone call, Turnbull does not agree with Trump’s remarks against the media. The latter has utilised a 77-minute news conference to talk about the press, which has reported an alleged dysfunction in the White House.

“A very great politician, Winston Churchill, once said that politicians complaining about the newspapers is like a sailor complaining about the sea,” Turnbull told reporters in New Zealand on Feb. 17. The Australian leader has pointed that it is the media that get messages across and thanked the press for its attention.

Furthermore, Turnbull said the Land Down Under was seeking to keep markets open in Asia. His administration is also pushing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) forward, inspite of the US pulling out of the trade agreement. “Australia is a trading nation, our future depends on not simply selling things to 24 million Australians but selling them to the whole world,” the prime minister maintained.