Controversy erupts in London after Clash with Australian Journalist; ABC Banned from Trump's Press Conference!
London: The first day of US President Donald Trump's UK visit was full of drama. Australia's national broadcaster, ABC, was abruptly excluded from a press conference Trump was scheduled to attend with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The reason given was "logistical issues," but the real story is different.
The altercation actually began on the White House lawn when ABC America editor John Lyons directly questioned Trump about how much his wealth had increased since becoming president and whether he was running a business from the White House.
Trump replied, "I don't know much about that. I already made most of the deals. And now my children are managing the business. That's what I've done all my life: build buildings."
But when Trump learned the journalist asking the question was from Australia, he became enraged. "In my opinion, you're doing a lot of harm to Australia right now. I'm going to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese soon, and I'm going to tell him about you."
As John Lyons attempted to ask another question, Trump put his finger to his lips and said, "quiet." He further remarked, "You've set a very bad tone."
The White House's official social media handles then shared a video of the altercation with the caption, "Trump teaches a rude fake news loser a lesson."
🚨BREAKING: Trump threatens an Australian reporter that their question about his business activity will hurt his relationship with the entire country: “Your leader is coming to see me soon, I'm going to tell him about you.”
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 16, 2025
Is he a f*cking psychopath?
pic.twitter.com/2pwqr2fXfT
The situation then escalated. Downing Street Media canceled ABC's pass, stating, "There's no room due to logistical reasons." ABC claims they were not given a concrete reason. Clearly, this all happened after the confrontation between Trump and the journalist, in which Trump publicly shoved the journalist.
Journalist John Lyons also issued a clarification on the matter. He called Trump's reaction "absurd" and said that a journalist's job is to ask such questions of leaders. Lyons said, "To me, it was a perfectly normal question. I don't think the question was provocative. It was asked in a researched and respectful manner."
Lyons said of the confrontation, "It wasn't my usual day. The most powerful man in the world scolded me. But I asked the right questions based on my research." He acknowledged that Trump is currently in a combative mood with a large section of the media, and this appeals to his MAGA base.
ABC News Director Justin Stevens defended Lyons, saying, "He's one of our most experienced and respected journalists. His job is to ask tough questions."
Trump to File $15 Billion Defamation Against New York Times, Calls it One of the Worst Newspapers in America #Trump #NYtimes #NYT #NewYorkTimeshttps://t.co/KJo0YHGlI5
— VOiCE OF MEDIA (@voiceofmedia1) September 16, 2025
Green Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Trump of intimidating both the media and Australia. Independent Senator David Pocock said, "Press freedom must be protected. No other country's leader would ever think of telling our Prime Minister which journalist to silence."
Actually, Trump has added billions of dollars to his net worth in just six months since returning to power, most of which has come from cryptocurrency. In that short time, he has purchased bonds worth more than $100 million. This disclosure comes from a 33-page government filing released in August. These investments clearly demonstrate Trump's keen interest in managing his personal wealth even while serving as president. According to a report by the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE), between his inauguration on January 21st and August 1st, Trump made approximately 690 financial investments. These investments include bonds of major companies and US states.
Most of Trump's assets are in real estate. He owns golf courses, luxurious mansions, a winery, and a 1991 Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One. According to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires Index, Trump's net worth is $7.2 billion.
