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‘‘So are you!’’ Okay, it mightn’t have been quite that giggly, but Trump’s ability to strike bromances with, or to gratuitously antagonise, precisely the wrong people is proving another marvel of his poisonous presidency.
Turnbull’s disputing that Trump hung up on him, but credible reports from the American end suggest Trump had signalled he wanted the call ended. And, undeniably, it did, less than halfway through what was meant to be an hour-long, relationship building chat.
The chief sticking point was Trump’s palpable displeasure at the deal struck with the outgoing Obama to give US entry to 1250 refugees from Nauru and Manus Island. ‘‘I will study this dumb deal,’’ Trump later tweeted.
Here we might pause and consider the plausibility of Trump, at this stage, actually studying anything much.
Word from elsewhere in the US is that the deal will proceed, but through a gauntlet of ‘‘extreme vetting’’.
The question now arises how the president’s first call to Bill English might pan out. Should be okay as long as English avoids testy subjects like stability, integrity and decency.
John Key last year spoke to then President Elect Trump by phone, during which he adopted his own advocacy style, simpering afresh about the not-so-badness of the TPPA and how this was something that - by golly - he’d like to have further discussions about ‘‘at a time that was convenient’’.
In spite of fightin’ talk like that, Key found Trump ‘‘warm and engaging’’.
And if anything, English may find himself in a position where his electorate finds the thought of a conversation with Trump going swimmingly to be just about as unsettling as it going badly.
Trump reportedly told Key that USNZ relationships were in ‘‘top-notch’’ shape.
Which is good, right? Admittedly, when Trump actually visited NZ in 1993, it was in an unsuccessful attempt to convince the Casino Control Authority to support his consortium bidding to build a casino in Auckland. Personally disappointing, to be sure.
So it’s a good job the disciplines of presidency require such strong separation of personal and public interest.
A less-than-scrupulous leader might let it colour their view.