Australia’s state broadcaster has been barred from attending Donald Trump’s press conference in the UK this week after the U.S. president clashed with their journalist.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) London bureau was initially cleared to attend Trump’s and British prime minister Keir Starmer’s joint press conference on Thursday, but officials later withdrew the broadcaster’s accreditation.
The broadcaster said Downing Street Media withdrew the accreditation, citing “logistical reasons”. “The ABC’s London bureau is still accredited to attend Chequers; however, Downing Street media has said it no longer has a spot at the joint press conference due to logistical reasons,” an ABC spokesperson told The Guardian.
Trump is in London on his second state visit to the UK. He is scheduled to address the press with the British prime minister following their lunch on Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after Trump accused ABC America’s editor John Lyons of “hurting” Australia after he pressed the president about his alleged business dealings from the White House.
The ABC spokesperson added: “We have been given no indication this is connected to the questions put to President Trump by ABC Americas Editor John Lyons earlier this week.”
Trump was speaking to the press on the White House lawn before leaving for his state visit to the UK when Lyons asked how wealthier he had grown since returning as the president in January this year.
When Lyons asked whether it was appropriate for a sitting US president to conduct business from the White House, Mr Trump claimed: “I’m really not, my kids are running the business.” Upon learning that Lyons was from Australia, Trump said: “In my opinion, you’re hurting Australia very much right now.”
“And they want to get along with me. You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone. You can set a nicer tone,” he added.
When Lyons tried to ask another question, the president held his index finger to his lips before telling him: “Quiet.”
Shortly after, an official White House social media account shared a video of the exchange with the caption: “Trump smacks down a rude foreign Fake News loser.”
Lyons told Radio National Breakfast on Wednesday that Trump was in a “pretty feisty mood” during the exchange between them. Lyons joked that he would have to “brace himself” for when the president “tells on me” to Albanese.
“I don’t know what the prime minister will do, but I’ve certainly now got to go through that,” Lyons said.
“That was the point at which he lashed out,” he said, recalling the moment he asked Trump about his wealth. “It’s certainly not a typical day at the office to be given a serve by the most powerful man in the world at the moment.”
