
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned a brilliant barb to President Donald Trump when he criticised her at the APEC conference in Vietnam.
Trump reportedly told a person standing next to the Prime Minister:
This lady caused a lot of upset in her country.
Ardern replied:
Well, you know, only maybe 40 per cent.
Trump repeated his initial statement. So Ardern upped the ante:
You know, no-one marched when I was elected.
Picture: Then Labour MP Jacinda Ardern and musician, writer, activist Lizzie Marvelly join thousands of people marching up Queen Street. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Ardern later said that Trump laughed during the exchange and did not seem offended:
He laughed and it was only afterwards that I reflect that it could have been taken in a very particular way – he did not seem offended.
The exchange was tweeted by Flight of the Concords comedian and New Zealander Jemaine Clement:
Trump met our Prime Minister. https://t.co/xQYdw0Tpau— Jemaine Clement (@Jemaine Clement) 1510819565
People loved Ardern for challenging Trump:
@AJemaineClement As an Australian I have serious PM envy.— Jason Stark (@Jason Stark) 1510819983
@AJemaineClement Oh my god, could he be more of a boor?— Calpurnia Addams (@Calpurnia Addams) 1510819889
@AJemaineClement Love it! Badass move by Ardern. Meanwhile, our Prime Minister, Malcolm Trumble, licks his boots...— Fin Kelly (@Fin Kelly) 1510819916
Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, ignored a public request by Ardern to have a "substantive" discussion on her offer to resettle 150 refugees from Manus Island.
Asked by reporters whether she had met Turnbull, she said:
Not since I saw him in passing but our officials have been talking together.
Asked whether it was the discussion she'd asked for, she said:
No, not necessarily. Both of us are busy, involved in the summit and other bilaterals.
I think we’re splitting hairs a little bit of whether it needs to be formally sitting down or over a cup of tea in a waiting room ... You’d be surprised what I can do over a cup of tea.
HT Newshub