U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday defended a series of “tough phone calls” with world leaders after reportedly exchanging harsh words with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a diplomatic spat with Mexican President Enrique Nieto.
“When you hear about the tough phone calls I’m having, don’t worry about it,” Trump told the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event in Washington.
“Just don’t worry about it. They’re tough. We have to be tough. It’s time we’re going to be a little tough folks.
“We’re taking advantage of by every nation in the world virtually.
“It’s not going to happen anymore. It’s not going to happen anymore.”
Trump had earlier slammed a deal reached last year between the U.S. and Australia to take refugees from an
Australian detention centre and had reportedly clashed with Turnbull on the deal in a weekend phone call.
Trump also clashed with the Mexican leader over U. S plans to construct a border wall between the nations, prompting Nieto to cancel a scheduled trip to Washington.
