Trump reportedly insulted Australia's prime minister, offered to invade Mexico, in phone calls

President Trump speaks with Australia's prime minister
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

President Trump spoke with the leaders of five countries on Saturday — Germany, Russia, Japan, France, and Australia — and he told Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that his "was the worst call by far," before abruptly ending the hour-long call after 25 minutes, The Washington Post reported late Wednesday, citing "senior U.S. officials briefed on the Saturday exchange." Australia is one of America's closest and staunchest allies, but Trump was apparently irked by a deal the Obama administration had reached to vet and take in about 1,250 asylum-seekers Australia has diverted to two islands, where they are detained in often deplorable conditions.

"I don't want these people," Trump reportedly said. Many of the refugees are from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia — countries included in the refugee ban Trump signed on Friday, though that executive order included an exemption for "a pre-existing international agreement," meaning the Australia deal. When Turnbull pressed, Trump said it is his "intention" to honor the agreement, though he reportedly added, "this is the worst deal ever," accused Australia of trying to send America the "next Boston bombers," fretted that he's "going to get killed" politically for taking in refugees, and bragged about the size of his inaugural crowd and electoral college victory.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.