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Julie Bishop’s comments about Melania Trump spark reported ‘damage control’ with White House

Staff reporterThe West Australian
Julie Bishop in 2017.
Camera IconJulie Bishop in 2017. Credit: Getty Images

Remarks by former foreign minister Julie Bishop about US President Donald Trump’s wife Melania have reportedly caused trouble between the White House and Canberra.

The comments were made during an event at the Adelaide Festival in March.

Ms Bishop recounted a trip to United Nations in New York in 2017 when Mrs Trump mistook her partner David Panton for Foreign Minister.

"Melania, standing by, assumed David was the foreign minister and she said to me: 'Julie, will you be coming to my ladies' lunch tomorrow?'”, Ms Bishop told journalist Annabel Crabb.

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The retiring WA MP’s anecdote was reported widely, including in the influential New York Magazine.

Julie Bishop and David Panton in Perth in 2018.
Camera IconJulie Bishop and David Panton in Perth in 2018. Credit: John Koh.

A senior White House source told The Australian the President was angered by Ms Bishop sharing the story and that “significant damage control” was required.

Australia’s relationship with the US has been fraught since a conversation between Mr Trump and then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was leaked.

A member of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee described the leak as “absolutely horrific” when he referred it to the US Attorney-General for possible criminal charges.

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