'You are worse than I am': Explosive transcript of Turnbull-Trump call is leaked
The explosive full transcript of a heated conversation between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been leaked.
The transcript of the 24-minute phone call, which occured just after Trump's inauguration on January 28, was exposed by the Washington Post.
In it the pair discuss a refugee deal signed under the Obama administration, a deal the US President said will make him look “awfully bad” as it does not fit with his Executive Order.
It starts off friendly enough, with a bit of banter between the pair about golfer Greg Norman.
“And I guess our friend Greg Norman, he is doing very well?” Mr Trump says.
“He is a great mutual friend yes,” Mr Turnbull replies.
“Well you say hello to him. He is a very good friend,” Mr Trump says.
But the conversation begins to take a turn when the two leaders talk about Australia’s refugee deal with the US.
“Somebody told me yesterday that close to 2000 people are coming who are really probably troublesome,” Mr Trump says.
“And I am saying, boy that will make us look awfully bad. Here I am calling for a ban where I am not letting anybody in and we take 2000 people.”
Mr Turnbull tells him the deal does not require the US to take 2000 people and explained, and only required the “US to look and examine and take up to and only if they so choose – 1250 to 2000”.
“This is a big deal. It is really, really important to us that we maintain it. It does not oblige you to take one person that you do not want,” Mr Turnbull says.
“This is going to kill me,” Mr Trump responds.
“I am the world’s greatest person that does not want to let people into the country.”
'This is a stupid deal' Trump tells Turnbull
The pair continue to argue as the US President mentions phone calls with Russian President Vladamir, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“You have brokered many a stupid deal in business and I respect you, but I guarantee that you broke many a stupid deal,” Mr Trump says.
“This is a stupid deal. This deal will make me look terrible.”
The US President says the deal will make him look “like a dope”.
The PM tries to appeal his case and says Australia was taking people from the Obama administration “that they were very keen on getting out of the United States”.
He says, “there is nothing more important in business or politics than a deal is a deal. Look, you and I have a lot of mutual friends”.
But Mr Trump isn’t having a bar of it.
“I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made,” he says.
“It is an embarrassment to the United States of America and you can say it just the way I said it. I will say it just that way. As far as I am concerned that is enough Malcolm.
“I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous.”
Mr Turnbull suggests they talk about Syria and North Korea.
“This is crazy,” Mr Trump says.
“It is important to you and it is embarrassing to me. It is an embarrassment to me, but at least I got you off the hook. So you put me back on the hook.”
The US President took to Twitter after the conversation saying he would “study this dumb deal”.
Towards the end of the call Mr Trump jokes with Mr Turnbull, after the Australian PM explains Australia's refugee policy was to stop people smugglers - meaning even Nobel Prize winners would be rejected if they tried to travel to Australia by boat.
Mr Trump told Mr Turnbull: 'That is a good idea. We should do that too. You are worse than I am.’
