Two old chums, relaxed in each other’s company, grinning like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump. Albo and The Don. The Donster.
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Mr Albanese snapped the selfie at a reception for world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Prime Minister posted the happy snap on his X account, offering “Always good to catch up with @POTUS.”
Isn’t it great that Mr Albanese has such a healthy relationship with Mr Trump?
Especially after they got off on the wrong foot. Remember when the Prime Minister was just a hopeful Opposition leader? When he confessed that Mr Trump: “Scares the shit out of me”?
Of course there was little chance Mr Trump even knew who Mr Albanese was back then.
And yes, there have been a few bumps in the road later on though.
Like when the Trump administration hit us with hefty tariffs despite Australia not having tariffs on any US goods.
Then there was the will-he-or-won’t-he saga in which we all guessed when, or if, Mr Albanese would meet Mr Trump while at the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June 2025.
It was seen as a chance to take the Trump relationship beyond their three telephone conversations.
Mr Albanese’s list of topics included trade, the President’s tariff war, the US push for Australia to ramp up defence spending and the AUKUS submarine pact with the US and Britain.
It was all a bit of a let-down in the end when the much-hyped meeting was abruptly called off when Mr Trump flew home to deal with the Iran crisis.
At least we could still push our interests via our then-ambassador Kevin Rudd.
And sure, he had once famously declared Mr Trump was a “traitor to West” and a “village idiot”, but that was eventually dealt with. Sort of.
The President was asked during a meeting with Mr Albanese at the White House about Mr Rudd’s views.
Mr Trump said “If he said bad, maybe he’d like to apologise”.
Mr Trump then asked Mr Albanese “if he’s still working for you?” before the Prime Minister pointed out Mr Rudd sitting diagonally opposite the President. “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will,” Mr Trump said.
The Prime Minister’s response to Mr Trump’s shredding of Mr Rudd was to laugh.
Just two ol’ buddies yucking it up.
Of course Mr Trump was not happy with us when we didn’t spring to his aid when the you-know-what hit the fan over Iran.
In a blast in March he said “Australia was not great. I was a little surprised by Australia”.
Sure, Mr Trump famously holds a grudge, but there is no way he will let that influence his policies towards us.
And yes, the White House has flatly rejected the Prime Minister’s call to regulate AI and social media algorithms. Well, the US mauled the idea, really.
But despite all that the President still found the time, amid all those heavy hitters in New York, to snap that selfie with his mate from Down Under.
There can be no doubt that our middle power, power, is still paying dividends with the leader of the free world.
