Anthony Albanese will have to jockey against 100 world leaders over a drinks reception for his first few minutes of Presidential time, after the White House confirmed that no bilateral meeting would take place between Donald Trump and the Prime Minister this week.
The White House hit out at Western leaders, including Mr Albanese, recognising the state of Palestine at the 80th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) underway in New York.
Mr Albanese is attending his first ever UNGA since becoming Prime Minister four years ago. At the top of his agenda has been changing Australia’s policy on the Middle East to formally recognise Palestine as a state.
But his office had hoped his international trip to New York would provide an opportunity for a meeting with Mr Trump, whom Mr