PM talks to Trump

Prime Minister Bill English.
Prime Minister Bill English.
Prime Minister Bill English has reportedly spoken by phone to US president Donald Trump this morning.

Mr English raised his concerns about the recent Executive Order barring travel by those from seven Muslim countries in his first call with Mr Trump.

A spokeswoman for Mr English said they discussed a range of topics including the New Zealand economy, as well as trade, security and defence relationship between the two countries.

"The President and Prime Minister noted their respective positions on the recent US Executive Order on immigration on that country."

"Prime Minister English thanked the President for the US support during the Kaikoura earthquake."

Mr English broke away from his Waitangi Day commemorations in Auckland to take the call.

He is expected to discuss it in further detail when he talks to media this afternoon from Hoani Waititi Marae.

Before the call, Mr English had said he would raise the travel ban the Trump executive order had imposed on nationals from seven countries, and the suspension of refugee processing. That order has currently been suspended by the courts in the US.

Mr English expected the call to be "civil", despite the reports of a fractious phone call between Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Trump.

That was over the deal struck between the Australian Government and the Obama administration for the US to take about 1200 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.

The details of that call emerged a few days after it took place.

The White House is expected to put up a 'readout' summarising the call later. In its summary of Trump's 'second week of action' it says the aim of the calls are to "promote an America First foreign policy."

Mr English is about the 15th leader Mr Trump has spoken to since his inauguration. Former prime minister John Key had a brief conversation with him after the US elections. He has spoken to leaders from Israel, Russia, Germany, Mexico, India, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Jordan, China, Britain and Australia.

Comments

its nice they got on well.....what ever people say about English hes not open boarder