‘I’m not happy’: Trump renews criticism of Australia, ignores defence spend boost

Washington: US President Donald Trump has renewed his accusations that Australia has not done enough to help him in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, while ignoring Canberra’s recently announced hike in defence expenditure.

Asked about the announcement – which was partly to assuage criticism from Washington about Australia’s low military spending – Trump initially said “we’re gonna see what happens” and then spoke about the US success in Iran.

Asked again, he launched into a condemnation of Australia for not helping with the war – specifically with reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“I’m not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there,” he said.

“Australia is another one. They were not there having to do with Hormuz. So I’m not happy, I’m not happy with them.”

Trump made the comments while taking questions as he left the White House on Thursday (Friday morning AEST).

He did not respond to further shouted questions about whether he was still on good terms with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, speaking to reporters in Washington in the hour after Trump made the remarks, said they were consistent with what the president had said in the past.

Chalmers said he was not aware of a formal request from the US for Australia to assist in Iran along the lines Trump described.

Australia has agreed to participate in “appropriate efforts” to help reopen the strait at the right time, along with dozens of other countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles this week announced Labor would spend an extra $53 billion on defence over the next decade, taking the expenditure to 3 per cent by 2033 using the NATO definition, which includes military pensions.

The US had been asking Australia to lift spending to 3.5 per cent – though Trump digressed on that when he was asked during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s White House visit last year.