Donald Trump has lavished praise on Australia and Anthony Albanese during the pair's landmark meeting in Washington, saying there has "never been anybody better" to the US.
The prime minister had to wait 10 months for his first in-person bilateral with the US president but he emerged from the White House with:
- A multi-billion-dollar minerals deal designed to combat China's global dominance in the sector
- A renewed commitment from the United States to AUKUS, including confirmation Australia would get the submarines it was paying for
- The potential for Mr Trump to visit Australia
However, not everything went to plan.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, a former long-time Labor colleague of Mr Albanese's who is now Australia's ambassador to the US, got a trademark dressing down from Mr Trump.
Mr Rudd, who had previously been scathing of the president in a series of now-deleted social media posts, was sitting across the table from Mr Trump in the cabinet room.
When a journalist asked the commander-in-chief about the posts, Mr Trump quipped that "maybe he'd like to apologise" before looking at Mr Rudd and saying: "I don't like you either, and I probably never will."
Mr Albanese laughed off the interaction, and the meeting continued.
The ABC understands there was a subsequent, more cordial interaction between Mr Rudd and Mr Trump after the cameras left the room.
The US president described Australia as "a fantastic place" and said its PM was "highly respected" and had done a "fantastic job".
"We've been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there's never been anybody better," Mr Trump told Mr Albanese in front of the cameras.
"We fought wars together and we never had any doubts. It's a great honour to have you as my friend and a great honour to have you in the United States of America."
Minerals deal to combat China
Monday's meeting began with the signing of a multi-billion-dollar minerals deal designed to boost processing capacity — something China currently towers over globally.
"This is an $8.5 billion pipeline and we're just getting started," Mr Albanese said.
While Australia has a wealth of critical minerals, turning it into something else usually means involving Beijing.
"Australia has a view similar to putting America first," Mr Albanese said.
"Ours is about not just digging them [the minerals] up and exporting them. How do we have benefit across the supply chain?"
Meanwhile, Mr Trump made a renewed commitment to the AUKUS partnership, which has faced criticism in Australia as well as reviews in the US and United Kingdom.
The US president has seldom spoken about the defence pact, which centres on beefing up submarine development and manufacturing capabilities across all three countries.
Earlier this year, he even appeared unfamiliar with the partnership — which is estimated to cost Australia alone $368 billion — saying, "What's that?" when asked about it.
Critics point out there is no concrete requirement for the US to provide Australia with the Virginia class boats it is supposed to in the deal's first pillar.
But Mr Trump was across the detail on Monday, saying: "Oh no, they're getting them."
United States Navy secretary John Phelan, who was also at the meeting, flagged changes to deal, though.
"I think what we're really trying to do is take the original AUKUS framework and improve it for all three parties, and make it better and clarify some of the ambiguity that was in the prior agreement," he said, without providing specifics.
During the meeting, it was also revealed Mr Albanese had invited Mr Trump to visit Australia.
"I'll have to give it serious consideration," the US president said.
US Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were also at the table.
On the Australian side, Mr Albanese and Mr Rudd were joined by ministers Tim Ayres and Madeline King and the prime minister's chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, among others.
While Monday's bilateral was the first official in-person meeting between Mr Trump and the Australian PM, the pair did snap a quick selfie when they bumped in to each other at the United Nations in New York last month.
They had also previously spoken on the phone.
