Anthony Albanese has finally managed to get a meeting with Donald Trump, after months of trying. 

But why did it take so long? And what does it say about just how rocky our relationship with the US has become?

As political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton reports, the Australian government has been working hard to soften the Trump administration’s attitude over many months, announcing policies favourable to them. 

At the same time, Albanese knows that downplaying his willingness to placate the US President is important to his domestic audience and that he can’t back down on his own objectives: pursuing recognition of Palestine and spruiking Australia’s clean-energy transition. 

Today, Karen Middleton on the task ahead for Albanese – and what a successful meeting with Trump would look like.

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Guest: Political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton 

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