Donald Trump caught cold from reporter question: “What does that mean?”

A reporter question about a security partnership between the United States, Great Britain and Australia has apparently caught coldly cold, US President Donald Trump. A journalist asked him at a meeting with the British Prime Minister Keir Strander in the White House if he would talk to his guest about Aukus. Trump reacted puzzled and asked: “What does that mean?”

The journalist repeated: “Aukus-the Australian-American defense alliance.” Trump nodded and said: “We’ll talk about that. (…) We have very good relationships with Australia.” Trump then quickly asked another journalist to ask a question.

In 2021, the United States, Great Britain and Australia announced the formation of a security alliance with the name Aukus – the name results from the English abbreviations of the three countries (from, UK and USA). In the same step, the US government under President Joe Biden announced that it would enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in order to strengthen security and military deterrence in the Indopazacific.

Trump’s irritated reaction to the reporter question was taken in Australia with a mixture of incredulously horrified, demonstrative serenity and despite. While some commentators see the country, without the backing of the United States, powerful actors in the Indopazacific such as China, such as China, virtually defenseless, others took the words of the US President as an opportunity to consider Australia’s strong dependence on the United States.