Politics

Trump Praised Turnbull For Being Even Shittier To Refugees Than He Is

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by Rob Stott  4 August 2017

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Remember back in January when reports emerged that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had a very testy phone call? Well, the transcript has leaked and hooooo boy.

The full transcript was originally published by the Washington Post, and it’s chock full of goodies. Seriously, go read the whole thing. But the highlight is definitely when the discussion turned to the controversial refugee swap deal that might see the US take in 1250 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.

Trump, who hates the deal, asked why it had ever been made in the first place, when Turnbull tried to calmly explain it to him. Here’s the transcript:

Trump: Who made the deal? Obama?

Turnbull: Yes, but let me describe what it is. I think it is quite consistent. I think you can comply with it. It is absolutely consistent with your executive order so please just hear me out. The obligation is for the United States to look and examine and take up to and only if they so choose — 1,250 to 2,000. Every individual is subject to your vetting. You can decide to take them or to not take them after vetting.

You can decide to take 1,000 or 100. It is entirely up to you. The obligation is to only go through the process. So that is the first thing. Secondly, the people — none of these people are from the conflict zone. They are basically economic refugees from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. That is the vast bulk of them. They have been under our supervision for over three years now and we know exactly everything about them.

Trump: Why haven’t you let them out? Why have you not let them into your society?

Turnbull: Okay, I will explain why. So we said if you try to come to Australia by boat, even if we think you are the best person in the world, even if you are a Nobel Prize-winning genius, we will not let you in. Because the problem with the people

Trump: That is a good idea. We should do that too. You are worse than I am.

There’s the US President, who campaigned on banning an entire religion from entering his country, looking at Australia and saying we’re worse than him.

Stand up and salute.

The Reactions To The Exchange Are A Heady Mixture of Jokes And National Shame.

Here’s press gallery legend Michelle Grattan on the conversation.

There Are Plenty More Highlights From The Call. Let’s Start With The Intro.

Turnbull: Good evening.

Trump: Mr Prime Minister, how are you?

Turnbull: I am doing very well.

Trump: And I guess our friend Greg Norman, he is doing very well?

Turnbull: He is a great mutual friend yes.

When Turnbull Had To Explain Numbers To Trump.

Trump: Malcolm, why is this so important? I do not understand.

Turnbull: With great respect, that is not right — it is not 2,000.

Trump: Well, it is close. I have also heard like 5,000 as well.

Turnbull: The given number in the agreement is 1,250 and it is entirely a matter of your vetting. I think that what you could say is that the Australian Government is consistent with the principles set out in the executive order.

Trump: No, I do not want say that. I will just have to say that unfortunately I will have to live with what was said by Obama. I will say I hate it.

Milk People?

Trump: No, I do not want say that. I will just have to say that unfortunately I will have to live with what was said by Obama. I will say I hate [the deal].

Look, I spoke to Putin, Merkel, Abe of Japan, to France today, and this was my most unpleasant call because I will be honest with you. I hate taking these people. I guarantee you they are bad. That is why they are in prison right now. They are not going to be wonderful people who go on to work for the local milk people.

Why Do We Discriminate Against Boats?

Trump: What is the thing with boats? Why do you discriminate against boats? No, I know, they come from certain regions. I get it.

Turnbull: No, let me explain why. The problem with the boats it that you are basically outsourcing your immigration program to people smugglers and also you get thousands of people drowning at sea. So what we say is, we will decide which people get to come to Australia who are refugees, economic migrants, businessmen, whatever. We decide. That is our decision. We are a generous multicultural immigration nation like the United States but the Government decides, the people’s representatives decides.

And When Turnbull Tried To Talk About Syria And North Korea, So Trump Ended The Phone Call.

Turnbull: Do you want to talk about Syria and DPRK?

Trump: [Inaudible] this is crazy.

Turnbull: Thank you for your commitment. It is very important to us.

Trump: It is important to you and it is embarrassing to me. It is an embarrassment to me, but at least I got you off the hook. So you put me back on the hook.

Turnbull: You can count on me. I will be there again and again.

Trump: I hope so. Okay, thank you Malcolm.

Turnbull: Okay, thank you.