Awkward silence hangs between Trump and Turnbull in Oval Office

IT WAS all smiles, handshakes, praise and gratitude between Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump during the Aussie PM’s White House visit, but there was one tiny sign that their relationship may not be as comfortable as they make out.

Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy were warmly welcomed into the West Wing by Mr Trump and Melania on Friday afternoon. The conversation seemed to flow freely as they walked down the veranda to the Oval Office, with the men talking as a pair in front as the wives caught up with each other a few paces back.

But it seems as though the discussion may have dried up by the time journalists and camera operators were led into the Oval Office a few minutes later.

Both American and Australian journalists in the room noted that there was a long, awkward silence as they were herded into the room for the photo op with the two leaders and their wives. We’re talking zero banter.

The day’s White House pool reporter noted there was “a good 15 seconds of silence before the President began speaking”.

The Turnbulls wore beaming smiles for the cameras; Mrs Trump looked glamorous but stone-faced.

It’s possible that the press pack entered during a natural lull in the conversation, but the moment is notable given the fact that the two leaders’ relationship got off to such a rocky start.

Mr Trump fumed down the phone line to Mr Turnbull during their first conversation in January 2017 when the Prime Minister pressured him to fulfil an agreement struck with the Obama administration to take 1250 asylum seekers from Australia.

“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,” Mr Trump said at the time.

“As far as I am concerned that is enough Malcolm. 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.”

Today, Mr Turnbull maintains that there is no bad blood and that they “get on very well”.

“As Greg Norman said, he’s a great friend of both of us. We’ve got a great relationship,” the PM told Sky News earlier this week.

The two leaders heaped praise on each other during a joint press conference later in the afternoon in the White House’s ornate East Room.

Mr Trump introduced Mr Turnbull as “my friend” and congratulated the PM on Australia’s tough immigration laws.

Mr Turnbull, in turn, thanked Mr Trump effusively for his “very warm welcome, generous hospitality and friendship”.

The 40-minute press conference underlined the vast differences between the two leaders’ styles. While Mr Turnbull was expansive and detailed with his remarks, Mr Trump delivered his thoughts in pithy blasts. If you watched closely, you could see Mr Trump’s mind wander as Mr Turnbull held court.

Take, for example, their respective answers on a question from a US reporter about Syria.

Mr Turnbull expounded: “The campaign to destroy Daesh, or ISIL, has been largely completed. The territory of their so-called caliphate has been reduced down to a few pockets.

“Americans and Australians have worked greatly, effectively with our partners and allies in the region to do that … So this was a very important part of our global effort, but ultimately a settlement in that region has to come from a political settlement from the people who live there.”

Mr Trump bluntly added: “We’re there for one reason. We’re there to get ISIS, and get rid of ISIS and go home.”

As pragmatic politicians, Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull have a lot in common. They are both businessmen at heart and the PM’s core mission of “jobs and growth” fits neatly with what the President is fighting for on US soil. In fact, Mr Turnbull remarked on Friday that he was “inspired” by Mr Trump’s sweeping tax cuts.

Does that translate to sparkling banter behind closed doors? Maybe not. But ultimately, how well the two get on in private is less important than the strong economic and military ties between our two nations. And they are something both men have a made a steadfast commitment to maintain.

As Muhammad Ali once said: “Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.”