The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will not attend a joint press conference between U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The situation comes after a firm exchange between ABC Foreign Editor John Lyons and Trump on Sept. 16 at the White House.
The ABC says the incident has no connection to its reporters not being accommodated at the latest press event.
“The ABC’s London bureau is still accredited to attend Chequers (a high-level meeting between the two), 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 Epoch Times.
“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.”
“You’re generally regarded as being the wealthiest man who’s ever occupied the White House,” Lyons stated.
Trump told Lyons his children were running his business, and that most of the dealings he made were before his time as president.
Trump also talked about building a new White House ballroom, which he is personally funding to the tune of $250 million.
Yet Lyons probed further, asking again about the appropriateness of a president being engaged in the business world.
Trump re-stated that his children were running most of the business, before asking where Lyons was from.
Lyons said he was from the ABC, which led the president to criticise the broadcaster’s approach.
“Oh OK ... You are hurting Australia. In my opinion you are hurting Australia right now. And they want to get along with me,” he said.
“You know your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you. You set a pretty bad tone.”
Lyons was also told to be quiet by Trump.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has worked for months to secure a face to face meeting with Trump amid a swathe of outstanding issues impacting trade, defence spending, AUKUS, and other investments between the countries.
President Trump is currently in the UK for a second state visit, where he has already met the Royal Family, including Kind Charles II, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It’s irreplaceable and unbreakable,” Trump said during a speech at Windsor Castle.
