WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s Prime Minister Bill English says he told President Donald Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable.
Last week Trump had a testy exchange with Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a deal Australia reached with the Obama administration to resettle refugees in the U.S.
READ MORE: Donald Trump rips Australia’s PM over phone: ‘This was the worst call by far’
By contrast, English on Tuesday told Radio New Zealand that his 15-minute call with Trump on Monday was a “sensible, polite discussion” that affirmed the good relationship between the countries.
WATCH: Trump clashes with courts over immigration ban
English said he told Trump he disagreed with the contested refugee ban but didn’t berate him over it.
READ MORE: Donald Trump tells Mexican president he will send in US military if ‘bad hombres’ aren’t dealt with
“I’m not there to scold him, although a lot of people might like us to do that,” English said.
Comments