Trump has repeatedly described media criticism of him as "fake news" since taking office last month, labeling the media as the "opposition party". Turnbull, whose relationship with Trump got off to a rocky start earlier this month, said the 45th American president should stop focusing on the media. Relations between the United States and Australia hit a low point this month when Trump said on Twitter that a planned refugee swap between the two nations was a "dumb deal". Asked about his dealings with Trump, Turnbull said: "President Trump and I have had several calls now, very constructive calls. "Protectionism is not the ladder to get you out of the low growth track, it is the shovel to dig it deeper and deeper and deeper," he said.

Source: bd News24 February 17, 2017 13:29 UTC