Published daily by the Lowy Institute

A White House dinner for two: A tell-tale of tweets and transcripts

Ahead of a Washington rendezvous, Donald Trump and Scott Morrison revel in their own words.

The height of elegance... (Photo: Yuri Gripas via Getty)
The height of elegance... (Photo: Yuri Gripas via Getty)

Trump

Have you seen my tweet?

Morrison

It was brought to my attention … and then … honestly, this is what we call it the Canberra bubble. It’s ridiculous. It’ll be sorted out.

Trump

Why? I will study this dumb deal!

Morrison

The President gets that. I get it.

Trump

See, I said you’re going to do very well ­– and he did, he did that.

Morrison

We all have our relationships with the United States. And I’ve now met with President Trump on several occasions and I’m pleased that the relationship is I think in the strongest position that it’s been in a long time.

Trump

How the relationship works out, I won’t be able to tell you that later. I’ve had many times where I thought I’d get along with people, and I don’t like them at all.

Morrison

How good is Australia! How good are Australians!

Trump

These flyers depict Australia’s policy on Illegal Immigration. Much can be learned!

Morrison

Well again, I’m not going to go into on-water operations.

Trump

The Witch Hunt continues!

Morrison

Alexander Downer made this point yesterday.

Trump

I hope he looks at the UK and I hope he looks at Australia and I hope he looks at Ukraine. I hope he looks at everything, because there was a hoax that was perpetrated on our country.

Morrison

Is he a good president for Australia? Yes.

Trump

Been there. I’ve been there. I love it. Absolutely.

Morrison

I was ScottyMo back then.

Thumbs up! (Photo: White House/Flickr)

 

Trump

I’d have a very good relationship with President Putin if we spend time together.

Morrison

I think that troubles everybody.

Trump

I have a feeling that maybe things with Iran could work out, and maybe not.

Morrison

I think to conflate those issues would be ill informed.

Trump

I promise not to do this to Greenland!

Morrison

I mean he’s a very different President to previous Presidents.

Trump

I do not blame China or any other country, of which there are many, for taking advantage of the United States on trade. If their representatives are able to get away with it, they are just doing their jobs.

Morrison

We’re getting on with business with China.

Trump

Take their money. Take their money.

Morrison

The allegations that have been made against the United States about protectionism, I don’t buy.

Trump

We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

Morrison

We won’t be in the business of running around offering countries lectures.

Trump

I told Theresa May how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way – was unable to get it done. A disaster!

Morrison

Yeah, he’s got a bag full of angry cats at the moment.

Trump

I’m a huge believer in clean air. I’m not a huge believer in the global warming phenomenon.

Morrison

This is coal – don’t be afraid, don’t be scared.

Trump

I think that’s pretty obvious to everybody. It’s all about space.

Morrison

Whether the onions are on top or underneath, I’ll always be buying sausages on bread … it’s part of what we do and frankly I’m not going to give them any recipe hints.

Trump

We’re going to serve McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King, with some pizza. I really mean it. It’ll be interesting.

Morrison

The reason you’d be at APEC, or East Asia Summit, or the G20 – it’s not for the coffee, as good as the coffee might be.

Trump

Fake news.

Morrison

Well they’re matters for the US to comment on.

Trump

Well, I hope they’re not hacking my account. But, actually, if they do, they’re not going to learn too much more than what I put out, right? Shouldn’t be too bad.

Morrison

Watch this space as he would say. Thank you.

A White House welcome (Photo: White House/Flickr)

 




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