It was a picture designed to crush a national controversy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese standing shoulder to shoulder with U.S. President Donald Trump , both grinning widely enough to prove the President has had more cosmetic dental work than the Prime Minister.

It’s clearly Albanese taking the selfie and just as clearly, Albanese who needs it circulated as widely as possible at home.

His lack of a face-to-face meeting with the President has become the Opposition’s issue that just keeps giving.

“In fact thirty world leaders have had physical meetings with the US President,” Shadow Trade Minister Kevin Hogan told a news conference.

Then pressed on whether Albanese should try phoning Trump, Hogan pivoted to another test of our PM’s lack of access.

“Yes — and I hope that the Prim

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