Anthony Albanese has revealed the gifts he gave Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, following his trip to Washington.
During official visits, it’s customary for leaders to offer gifts that reflect their country’s culture.
‘Our gift was done through protocol and so I know what our gift was, which was two things, at least perhaps more,’ Albanese said.
‘We had a gift for Melania. We had jewellery. We had a submarine model for the President.
‘And we had some Ugg bootees for the President’s newest [grandchild]… and I’m sure they will be very well received.’
The Prime Minister was asked if the submarine model shown to Trump was ‘gold-plated’.
‘I’ll just leave it there,’ Albanese said.
Trump has long been associated with lavish gold décor, having famously redecorated parts of the White House and the Oval Office with gold accents, frames and furnishings.
During official visits, it’s customary for leaders to offer gifts that reflect their country’s cultur
Albanese is jetting home from Washington DC, buoyed by his successful meeting with the US president, which ended with a multi-billion-dollar minerals deal and reassurances on AUKUS.
‘It was a terrific meeting, it couldn’t have gone better,’ Albanese said on Wednesday.
The meeting could lay the groundwork for the president to pull additional levers to accelerate Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, the first of which it plans to buy from the United States early next decade.
Trump gave his strongest commitment to date to the $368 billion project, ending months of uncertainty over whether he supported the deal.
Asked if the submarines would be delivered to Australia, he replied: ‘Oh no, they’re getting them’.
‘We’re just going full steam ahead building,’ he told reporters in the White House Cabinet Room.
Trump suggested the US might fast-track delivery of the vessels, but wouldn’t give a timeline.
Experts questioned whether the timeline of the AUKUS deal was viable, given the US is struggling to meet its targets for submarine production.
Perth USAsia Centre chief executive Gordon Flake said the Trump administration needed to do more to shore up its defence industrial base, but was optimistic about Australia receiving its submarines on time.
The main awkward moment came when Trump was asked about ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, who once called the president a ‘traitor to the West’
The main awkward moment came when Trump was asked about ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, who once called the president a ‘traitor to the West’.
Trump appeared not to know who Dr Rudd was, but when the former Labor prime minister was pointed out he responded ‘I don’t like you either and I probably never will’, to laughter from the Australian delegation.
Once the cameras were switched off, the ambassador apologised to Trump, who said ‘all is forgiven’, according to multiple Australian media outlets citing sources in the room.
