US President Donald Trump has criticised an Australian journalist during a tense exchange at the White House, accusing him of damaging Australia’s relationship with the United States and threatening to raise the matter with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
ABC Americas Editor John Lyons had asked the US president several questions about his business dealings and personal wealth.
"Is it appropriate, President Trump, that a president in office should be engaged in so much business activity?"
"Well, I'm really not," Trump said.
"My kids are running the business. You know what the activity — where are you from?"
When Lyons told Trump he was from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Trump replied: "Oh, the Australian — you're hurting Australia.
"In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now, and they want to get along with me.
"You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I'm going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone."
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Albanese was set to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly next week, where a meeting with Trump was expected to take place on the sidelines.
Lyons had also asked Trump how much wealthier he was now than when he returned to the White House in January.
Trump replied: "Well, I don't know if the deals I made, for the most part — other than what my kids are doing, you know, they're running my business — but most of the deals that I've made were made before."
Last week, business publication Forbes published its annual list of America's richest people, which estimated Trump's wealth had grown from $US4.3 billion (NZ$7.14 billion) to $US7.3 billion (NZ$12.2billion) in a year.
When Lyons attempted to ask a follow-up question, Trump told him: "Quiet."
The Trump administration then used an official White House account to label Lyons a "foreign fake news loser".
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