After months of political pressure and diplomatic speculation, the question on many Australians’ minds has been definitively answered. Did Albanese Trump meeting take place during this week’s high-profile United Nations General Assembly in New York?
The short answer is no.
Despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s attendance at the 80th UN General Assembly and President Donald Trump’s packed schedule of bilateral meetings, no meeting between Albanese and President Trump has occurred during the current diplomatic gathering.
Trump’s Selective Schedule Leaves Australia Waiting
Trump indicated he would meet with “some of the major” world leaders but did not specify if Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fell into this category. The US President’s 24-hour itinerary in New York conspicuously omitted any bilateral meeting with Australia’s leader.
President Trump leaving for the 80th UN General Assembly
Instead, Albanese has been invited to a “welcome reception” hosted by Trump for more than 100 world leaders. While this represents diplomatic protocol, it falls short of the substantive one-on-one discussion many Australian politicians and commentators have been demanding.
The absence becomes more significant when considering Trump’s confirmed meetings with other leaders including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa, and representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and the UAE.
A Pattern of Postponements and Missed Opportunities
This isn’t the first time hopes for an Albanese-Trump summit have been dashed. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first in-person meeting with Donald Trump was canceled after the president decided to leave a Group of Seven summit early to focus on the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The cancelled G7 meeting in June represented what many viewed as Australia’s best chance for a breakthrough. Trump’s change of plans was announced as Albanese was holding a news conference Monday on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in Canada, where he was outlining issues he intended to discuss with the president.
Key issues Albanese planned to discuss included:
- Trade relations and tariff exemptions
- The AUKUS submarine partnership
- Regional security cooperation
- Critical minerals collaboration
Phone Diplomacy vs Face-to-Face Relations
While there’s been no need for Trump meeting from the US perspective, Australia has maintained diplomatic contact through other channels. Albanese revealed the leaders spoke in a social media post just before midnight on Thursday, marking their fourth phone conversation.
It was the fourth phone call between the pair, which Albanese said was “warm and constructive“. The discussions covered trade, economic cooperation, and critical minerals – key priorities for Australia’s economic relationship with the United States.
However, phone diplomacy has its limitations. As one analyst noted, the lack of face-to-face engagement has created a perception problem. Australia is hostage to a handshake.
Political Pressure Mounting Back Home
The absence of a bilateral meeting has intensified domestic criticism of the Albanese government’s diplomatic efforts. Liberal senator Jane Hume told Seven’s Sunrise program more work needed to be done to secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump.
“It’s been 300 days now since President Trump has was elected, and still no meeting between our leaders, and that’s a concern“, Hume stated, reflecting growing impatience within opposition ranks.
The political stakes have been raised by Australia’s challenging relationship with Trump’s trade policies, including steel and aluminium tariffs that have strained the traditional alliance.
Flashback to Albanese landing in the US, without any welcome from the US President, declaring “the world is following Australia’s social media bans”
UN Agenda 2030 is clearly not welcomed by the US. His delusional sense of importance is toxic. pic.twitter.com/8j7zaM8mvn
— Aus Integrity (@QBCCIntegrity) September 23, 2025
The AUKUS Elephant in the Room
Perhaps most critically, the delayed meeting has prevented direct discussion of the AUKUS submarine partnership. Prime Minister Albanese told us he was going to do in his meeting with Donald Trump was get the President’s backing of our multibillion-dollar AUKUS submarine partnership, which is clouded by the Pentagon review that’s looking at it right now.
The partnership, worth approximately $386 billion, remains under review by the Trump administration. Without direct leader-to-leader engagement, Australia’s ability to advocate for the program’s continuation faces significant constraints.
AUKUS concerns include:
- Pentagon review of trilateral arrangements
- Australia’s defence spending levels
- US submarine production capacity
- Regional strategic priorities
Australia is building a $12 billion hub for AUKUS subs. 10,000 local jobs. Continuous shipbuilding. US submarines sustained down under. pic.twitter.com/7GGhPnCj7E
— Kevin Rudd AC (@AmboRudd) September 15, 2025
Market Impact and Economic Implications
The diplomatic uncertainty has contributed to broader concerns about Australia-US economic relations. Australian markets have experienced volatility amid ongoing trade tensions and tariff disputes.
Trump’s tariff policies have already imposed a 10% baseline tariff on Australian exports, with specific sectors facing higher rates. The steel industry has been particularly affected, with 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium creating significant challenges for Australian exporters.
Looking Ahead: Future Opportunities
Despite the current diplomatic gap, opportunities remain for future engagement. Donald Trump meeting schedule suggests potential windows for bilateral discussions outside the UN framework.
Australian officials continue working through diplomatic channels to secure exemptions from trade measures and maintain strategic partnerships. The relationship’s foundation – built over decades of military cooperation and shared democratic values – provides a platform for eventual leader-to-leader engagement.
The absence of a meeting at this UN gathering doesn’t necessarily indicate a fundamental shift in relations, but it does highlight the challenges facing Australia’s diplomatic efforts in the current political environment.
Key takeaways:
- No bilateral meeting has occurred between the leaders
- Phone diplomacy continues but falls short of face-to-face engagement
- Domestic political pressure on Albanese is intensifying
- AUKUS and trade issues remain unresolved
- Future opportunities for diplomatic breakthrough remain possible
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When was the last attempt at an Albanese-Trump meeting?
A: The most recent attempt was at the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025, which was cancelled when Trump left early due to Middle East conflicts.
Q: How many times have Albanese and Trump spoken by phone?
A: The leaders have had at least four phone conversations since Trump’s election victory, with the most recent described as “warm and constructive.”
Q: What are the main issues Australia wants to discuss with Trump?
A: Key priorities include AUKUS submarine partnership, trade tariff exemptions, critical minerals cooperation, and regional security arrangements.
Q: Is there still a chance for a future meeting?
A: Yes, Australian officials continue diplomatic efforts to secure a bilateral meeting, though no specific date has been confirmed.
