'I will study this dumb deal': Trump speaks out after 'hanging up on Turnbull'
The prime minister has hosed down reports of a curt conversation with the US president after Donald Trump tweeted the refugee swap agreement with Australia is a "dumb deal" that needs to be examined.
Mr Trump's announcement followed reports of a savage phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!" President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday afternoon (AEDT).
After refusing to provide "public comment" on the call, the Australian leader denied the Washington Post reports the call ended abruptly.
Speaking on Sydney's 2GB, Mr Turnbull did not deny other aspects of the reported tense conversation with Mr Trump.
"We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now from the government," Mr Turnbull said about the tepid refugee deal.
Mr Turnbull offered more commentary in a subsequent call with Melbourne's 3AW, expressing his disappointment with the leak while suggesting the relationship with the US was still healthy.
"I'm very disappointed about the leak in Washington of what purports to be details about the call but I can confirm that the report that the president hung up on me was not correct," Mr Turnbull told Melbourne's 3AW.
The PM confirmed the call had lasted only 25 minutes with the majority of the conversation focusing on the refugee deal.
However, he denied the call ended abruptly.
"The call ended courteously, that's all I want to say about that."
Mr Turnbull said affirmed the Australian-US alliance was strong, a good sign being the "forthright discussions where we express our views, as good friends should".
After talking with several world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin, President Trump told Prime Minister Turnbull their conversation on the weekend was "the worst call by far", the Post reports.
The strain on the US-Australian relationship comes amid another report President Trump threatened to send troops into Mexico during a conversation with President Enrique Pena Nieto on Friday.
The Mexican and US governments denied the story from Mexican journalist Dolia Estevez, who cited "confidential" US and Mexican sources.
Mr Trump told Mr Pena Nieto that "maybe" he should send US troops to defeat the cartels because "Mexican soldiers are not doing their job well," according to the report published by the website proyectopuente.com.mx.
Back in Australia, Mr Turnbull has so far remained diplomatic and tight lipped.
“I’m not going to comment on the conversation,” he told the media when quizzed about the report.
“During the course of the conversation, as you know, and it was confirmed by the president’s official spokesman, the president assured me that he would continue with, honour the agreement we entered into with the Obama Administration with respect to refugee resettlement.
“Australians know me very well. I always stand up for Australia in every forum - public or private,” Mr Turnbull said.
The US president accused the PM of trying to export "the next Boston bombers" to the US and then ended the call early, according to varying reports from Washington.
CNN's Jim Acosta tweeted that the president "pulled phone away from ear and says he wants off call, which ends abruptly", according to a source.
Mr Turnbull has repeatedly insisted his refugee-swap deal forged with former president Barack Obama remains on firm footing, but the Post paints a major breakdown in the relationship between the Australian and American leaders.
The report suggested the fledgling president ended the call - supposed to last an hour - within 25 minutes, but not before declaring his country’s pledge to take 1250 inmates from Manus Island and Nauru “the worst deal ever”.
The US president reportedly told Mr Turnbull he would "get killed" politically if he agreed to the deal, the Post said.
He also found time to boast to Mr Turnbull about the size of his electoral college win, accuse him of trying to send a new generation of terrorists to the US, and declare the conversation the "worst call by far" of Trump's discussions that day with world leaders that included heads of Russia, Mexico and Japan.
The Post said Washington insiders had revealed Trump also aggressively addressed Mexican President Peña Nieto, but they were struck by the viciousness with which he went for the leader of one of his country’s closest allies.
"I don’t want these people," Trump reportedly told Turnbull, accusing Australia of seeking to export the “next Boston bombers” when discussing the proposed 1250 refugees the US had previously agreed to accept.
The account flies in the face of statements from the White House shortly after Mr Turnbull spoke with Mr Trump, but appears to lend credibility to suggestions the refugee deal was on extremely shaky ground.
"We also discussed the resettlement arrangement of refugees from Nauru and Manus, which had been entered into with the previous administration, and I thank President Trump for his commitment to honour that existing agreement," Mr Turnbull told reporters shortly after the phone call.
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"Both leaders emphasized the enduring strength and closeness of the US-Australia relationship that is critical for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and globally," a statement from the White House said.
Days later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer also suggested the deal would go ahead, but within hours the White House was backing away from the idea again amid suggestions the President had not yet made up his mind.
Despite Mr Turnbull’s gentle approach and comments that could be seen as praise for Mr Trump’s incendiary approach to immigration from members of his front bench, the Australian Prime Minister now seems to have endured a humiliating early relationship with the President.
As chaos swirled in the US amid furious protests, cascading lawsuits and a revolting chief legal officer, Mr Turnbull announced Australia, via US Ambassador Joe Hockey, had secured a special exemption for its dual citizens which would circumvent the travel ban.
That assurance may not have been all it seemed either.
Revelations soon followed that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had also secured the same exemption, but had labeled it a clarification instead.
Reports followed that most other countries had also received similar clarifications.
