Trump to English: 'NZ a fantastic place'

US President Donald Trump had a 15-minute phone call with New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English...
US President Donald Trump had a 15-minute phone call with New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English. Photo Getty
If Australia's Malcolm Turnbull got Grumpy Trump, Bill English got "friendly, warm, thoughtful" Trump and even an invite to the White House "if you're passing by."

The New Zealand Prime Minister has given more detail on his phone call with the US President Donald Trump, describing Trump as "warm, civil and very thoughtful" during a call which ranged from immigration bans to the Super Bowl.

He said the call, which he took from the roadside on Auckland's waterfront in between Waitangi Day fixtures, was "a warm and friendly conversation."

Bill English
Bill English
Mr English said Mr Trump had even extended an invitation to the White House - although it was not in the usual diplomatic fashion.

"He has a more casual attitude to diplomatic relationships than is usual, but he conveyed his enthusiasm for meeting at some stage in the White House ... 'well, if you're passing by'."

Despite the warm offer, Mr English said he was unlikely to get there before the September election. "I'd imagine it will take some time for the new administration to bed in, and then we've got the election campaign. I wouldn't anticipate getting there this side of the election."

He said Mr Trump appeared to be positive about the relationship with New Zealand. "He thinks it's a fantastic place. He likes the idea we are a long way away so therefore we aren't under the same pressures as everybody else."

They talked about Mr Trump's attempt to ban citizens from seven countries entering the US - an Executive Order which has been suspended by the US courts.

Mr English told Mr Trump he disagreed with the action and it was not something New Zealand had done. "He just noted our views. I don't think that he was surprised by people having a different view."

The pair also discussed the different ways they dealt with border security.

"The discussion focused on what steps we take and the US takes to as a way of protecting our citizens from high-risk people coming in, which is clearly at the top of his agenda."

They also discussed trade - Mr Trump has withdrawn the US from the TPP and is instead planning to try to negotiate bilateral agreements with other countries as part of his "America First" policy.

Mr English said the topic of a New Zealand-US agreement did not come up.

"He's clearly focused on bigger agreements such as NAFTA. And in any case we want to sort through our own process to be sure that kind of a deal would be better than, say, a TPP proceeding without the US."

No request was made for New Zealand to do more to combat Isis.

"[There was] I think a good understanding that we discussed our role as a small country, a long way away, pulling our weight in the defence of our own people around the world and working alongside the US to contribute."

Mr English said they spoke for about 15 minutes.

Mr Trump reportedly described his phone call with Malclom Turnbull as the worst call he'd held that day.

Asked if he had ranked Mr English's call, Mr English laughed. "I'm sure he thinks it was a fantastic call. He certainly thinks very highly of New Zealand."

 

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