Back in early February, the Washington Post reported that Donald Trump had “abruptly ended” a phone conversation with the prime minister of Australia, telling him that “This was the worst call by far” of a day’s calls with world leaders. Not true, claimed the White House, and after Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tried to help smooth things over, Trump took to the Twitters to proclaim himself redeemed:
This week, the Washington Post obtained a full transcript of that call, and … what do you know! The original report was accurate. After a conversation in which Turnbull repeatedly tried to explain to Trump the terms of a deal for the United States to take economic refugees, and Trump proved totally unable to understand, but did describe himself as “the world’s greatest person that does not want to let people into the country,” here’s how Trump ended the call:
I have no choice to say that about it. Malcom [sic], I am going to say that I have no choice but to honor my predecessor’s deal. I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made. It is an embarrassment to the United States of America and you can say it just the way I said it. I will say it just that way. As far as I am concerned that is enough Malcom [sic]. I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous.
Turnbull responded by trying to bring the conversation back to civil ground, and Trump refused, saying “this is crazy” and “It is important to you and it is embarrassing to me.” When Turnbull said “You can count on me. I will be there again and again,” Trump couldn’t muster up the graciousness to return the commitment, simply saying “I hope so. Okay, thank you Malcolm.”
And just days later there’s Trump claiming that it was a “very civil conversation.” Well, Turnbull was civil, anyway. The conversation, not so much, insofar as Trump was providing a strikingly rude half of it. Looks like FAKE NEWS media was telling the truth all along.