Malcolm Turnbull is refusing to comment on his conversation with Donald Trump on the back of reports the prime minister was savaged by the new president by phone over the politically deadly refugee deal.
After talking with several world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin, President Trump told Prime Minister Turnbull their conversation on the weekend was "the worst call by far", the Washington Post reports.
Despite the reports, Mr Turnbull is trying to remain diplomatic and tight lipped.
“I’m not going to comment on the conversation,” he told the media when quizzed about the report.
“During the course of the conversation, as you know, and it was confirmed by the president’s official spokesman, the president assured me that he would continue with, honour the agreement we entered into with the Obama Administration with respect to refugee resettlement.
“Australians know me very well. I always stand up for Australia in every forum - public or private,” Mr Turnbull said.
The US president accused the PM of trying to export "the next Boston bombers" to the US and then ended the call early, according to the reports from Washington.
Mr Turnbull has repeatedly insisted his refugee-swap deal forged with former president Barack Obama remains on firm footing, but the Post paints a major breakdown in the relationship between the Australian and American leaders.
The report suggested the fledgling president ended the call - supposed to last an hour - within 25 minutes, but not before declaring his country’s pledge to take 1250 inmates from Manus Island and Nauru “the worst deal ever”.
The US president reportedly told Mr Turnbull he would "get killed" politically if he agreed to the deal, the Post said.
He also found time to boast to Mr Turnbull about the size of his electoral college win, accuse him of trying to send a new generation of terrorists to the US, and declare the conversation the "worst call by far" of Trump's discussions that day with world leaders that included heads of Russia, Mexico and Japan.
The Post said Washington insiders had revealed Trump also aggressively addressed Mexican President Peña Nieto, but they were struck by the viciousness with which he went for the leader of one of his country’s closest allies.
"I don’t want these people," Trump reportedly told Turnbull, accusing Australia of seeking to export the “next Boston bombers” when discussing the proposed 1250 refugees the US had previously agreed to accept.
The account flies in the face of statements from the White House shortly after Mr Turnbull spoke with Mr Trump, but appears to lend credibility to suggestions the refugee deal was on extremely shaky ground.
"We also discussed the resettlement arrangement of refugees from Nauru and Manus, which had been entered into with the previous administration, and I thank President Trump for his commitment to honour that existing agreement," Mr Turnbull told reporters shortly after the phone call.
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"Both leaders emphasized the enduring strength and closeness of the US-Australia relationship that is critical for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and globally," a statement from the White House said.
Days later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer also suggested the deal would go ahead, but within hours the White House was backing away from the idea again amid suggestions the President had not yet made up his mind.
Despite Mr Turnbull’s gentle approach and comments that could be seen as praise for Mr Trump’s incendiary approach to immigration from members of his front bench, the Australian Prime Minister now seems to have endured a humiliating early relationship with the President.
As chaos swirled in the US amid furious protests, cascading lawsuits and a revolting chief legal officer, Mr Turnbull announced Australia, via US Ambassador Joe Hockey, had secured a special exemption for its dual citizens which would circumvent the travel ban.
That assurance may not have been all it seemed either.
Revelations soon followed that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had also secured the same exemption, but had labeled it a clarification instead.
Reports followed that most other country's had also received similar clarifications.