Madison Burgess
Donald Trump has come under fire after he slammed an Australian reporter for her question about the Ukraine-Russia war.
The interaction took place on Monday (20 October) when the US president, 79, had his first proper meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House.
Talking about America's relationship with Australia and Trump's with Albanese, the Republican leader told the room: "We've been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there's never been anybody better."
He added: "We fought wars together and we never had any doubts."
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This meeting in question came after Trump last week sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington DC, where they discussed upcoming peace talks with Vladimir Putin. So, the Ukraine-Russia conflict was a topic of discussion, with questions coming in from the press who were in attendance.
Trump said during the round table that he wants to have 'one more go' at settling wars.
He said: "It's Russia and Ukraine, and I think we'll get there but it's turned out to be nasty because you have two leaders that truly hate each other.
"They hate each other beyond all else, and it makes it actually a little bit difficult."
When it was time for questions, the president was asked, as per MailOnline by The Nightly Australia’s Latika Bourke: “You are the most powerful man on earth. Why don’t you just enable Ukraine to finish this war tomorrow?”
Trump then responded: “Well, if you knew anything about what you were talking about.”
To which Bourke cut in with: "I do, I do."
The Republican leader replied: "You do? I don't think you do, really. I don't think you do. Because it's a little more complicated than that, but it sounds easy."
He added: "'We're in the process of trying to make a deal. If we make a deal, that's great. If we don't make a deal, it'll be a lot of people who are paying a big price."
Reporter: You are the most powerful man on earth, why do you just enable Ukraine to finish this war tomorrow?
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 20, 2025
Trump: If you knew anything about what you were talking about—
Reporter: I do
Trump: You do? I don’t think you do pic.twitter.com/Ovn3blpdEF
Understandably, the comments have prompted a mixed reaction, with some reports accusing Trump of 'mansplaining' and also pointing out that he did say he would end the war.
As per CNN, Trump said on dozens of occasions during his campaign trail that he would end the war in Ukraine either within 24 hours of his return to the White House or even sooner than that.
Slamming his reaction to the question, one Twitter user questioned: "Didn’t he say he would end the war on day 1??? How many days has it been now."
While a second penned: "He has the nerve to chastise her...when HE was the idiot who said he would end the war in one day."
And a third wrote: "This from the man who said he'd end the war before even taking office."
While a fourth added: "Oh, but he was going to end it with one phone call. Huh?"
Meanwhile, others stuck up for the US president, chiming in with: "I am with Trump on this one. That isn't how it works" and "He knows a little more of what's going on".