The White House has all but confirmed there will be no one-on-one meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New York during the United Nations General Assembly this week.
In announcing Mr Trump’s itinerary for his roughly 24 hours in New York, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has listed his meetings, with no mention of Anthony Albanese.
Mr Trump will have bilateral meetings with the UN secretary-general and the leaders of Ukraine, Argentina and the European Union.
He will also attend a multilateral meeting with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
The Australian prime minister will at least have a chance for a handshake and interaction at a “welcome reception” being hosted by Trump for more than 100 world leaders on Tuesday night, New York time.
Karoline Leavitt has all but confirmed a meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump will not go ahead. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
The White House press secretary also gave a taste of what to expect from Mr Trump’s first address to the UN since his return to the White House.
It will be “a major speech touting renewal of American strength”, Leavitt told reporters at the White House, including his “historic accomplishments in eight months, including the ending of seven wars and conflicts”.
Mr Trump will also use his address to the global forum to “touch upon how globalist institutions have significantly decayed the world order”.
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Later in the week, the US president will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House.
The outline means Australia’s hopes for a one-on-one meeting appear to have been dashed again.
If there is no meeting in New York, Mr Albanese will have to wait for an opportunity at the APEC and ASEAN summits next month.
On the decision of US allies Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom to formally recognise Palestinian statehood yesterday, Mr Trump did not immediately react, as he was attending a memorial for Charlie Kirk.
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Ms Leavitt told reporters the president “feels this does not do anything to release the hostages [in Gaza], does nothing to end this conflict and bring this war to a close”.
“Frankly, he believes this is a reward to Hamas”, Ms Leavitt said. “So he believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies.”
Mr Trump will express these concerns himself from the floor of the UN tomorrow, when he delivers his address to the General Assembly.