Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump continued to patch-up their relationship on Friday as the pair met in Washington, D.C. for the first time.
The US President sat down with the Prime Minister in the White House Oval Office where the pair – despite initially sitting through 15 seconds of awkward silence – described their partnership as ‘stronger than ever before’.
Mr Turnbull’s wife, Lucy, sat by his side, while Melania Trump looked in high spirits alongside the President, after weeks of appearing distant following cheating allegations against her husband.
The meeting was not without drama when a ‘mentally ill’ woman rammed a white minivan into a security barrier outside the White House.
A lockdown was immediately put in place with the powerful couples inside, before it was lifted half an hour later without shots being fired.
The woman is said to have intentionally rammed her Chevrolet Uplander into the gate, before being arrested.
Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump continued to patch-up their relationship on Friday as the pair met in Washington, D.C. for the first time, alongside their wives Melania (left) and Lucy (right)
Mr Trump sat down with Mr Turnbull (left) in the White House’s Oval Office, where the pair described their partnership as ‘stronger than ever before’
Melania Trump looked in high spirits alongside the President, after several weeks of appearing distant following cheating allegations against her husband
Mr Trump and the First Lady were both at the White House’s back door to warmly greet the Turnbulls (left and right) inside on Friday
The quartet weathered a security scare about 3.30pm after a ‘mentally ill’ woman rammed a white minivan (pictured) into a security barrier outside the White House
The woman is said to have intentionally rammed her Chevrolet Uplander (pictured) into the gate, before being arrested
Members of the US Secert Service closed off roads near the White House complex after the van crashed into a barricade
Inside the White House, Mr Trump promised the Prime Minister an official visit Down Under, saying: ‘We will be there.’
He didn’t elaborate on when the visit would be, but told reporters Australia is a ‘great place’.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump met a year after their relationship started on rocky ground, following a robust phone call about a ‘bad deal’ made by the Obama administration to accept refugees from Australian detention centres.
‘I will be seen as a weak and ineffective leader in my first week by these people. This is a killer,’ Mr Trump told him last February.
But Mr Trump honoured the deal, before the pair claimed to have patched things up at their first face-to-face meeting in New York in May.
Inside the White House, Mr Trump promised the Prime Minister an official visit Down Under, saying: ‘We will be there’
An awkward silence then befell the couples as they sat in the Oval House while reporters waited for someone to say something
The First Lady stood by her husband and the Turnbulls as the group posed for photos
Mr Trump heaped praise on Australia during a press conference, saying he hopes the US will follow the nation with its tough, ‘merit-based’ immigration policies
Mr Turnbull and wife Lucy (left) sat through more than ten seconds of silence alongside the Trumps while reporters looked on
Mr Trump and the First Lady were both at the White House’s back door to warmly greet the Turnbulls inside on Friday.
Minutes later, the leaders walked down the White House’s colonnade together, deep in conversation, as their wives had a lively conversation just behind them.
An awkward silence fell on the couples as they sat in the Oval House while reporters waited for someone to say something.
Eventually Mr Trump said: ‘The relationship we have with Australia is a terrific relationship and probably stronger now than ever before, maybe because of our relationship, our friendship.
‘We’re working on trade deals, we’re working on military and protection and all of the things that you would think we would be discussing today. … A lot of good things will come out of this visit.’
Mr Turnbull followed, saying: ‘It’s 100 years of mateship that we’re celebrating this this year, 100 years ago, the first time Australians and American soldiers went into battle together in the Battle of the Hamel, July 4 1918.
‘We have been fighting side-by-side in freedom’s cause ever since. One hundred years of mateship and 100 more to come.’
Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump met a year after their relationship started on rocky ground, following a robust phone call (pictured) about a ‘bad deal’ made by the Obama administration to accept refugees from Australian detention centres
Mr Trump also announced the US would name a new combat ship the USS Canberra
The pair continued to put on a mostly united front, although they veered when discussing gun control and the Trans Pacific Partnership – which Mr Trump said he will hold out on signing
Mr Turnbull (left) and Mr Trump spoke during a press conference after their meeting in the Oval Office
Mr Turnbull praised Australia’s gun control, although he refused to offer advice on US policy
The pair held a joint news conference after their meeting at the White House
Mr Trump could visit Australia this spring, when Trump attends regional meetings in the Pacific
Mr Trump warned the world might be in for a ‘very unfortunate day’ if their latest sanctions on North Korea don’t curb their nuclear missile program
Mr Trump also heaped praise on Australia during a press conference, saying he hopes the US will follow the nation with its tough, ‘merit-based’ immigration policies.
He also announced the US would name a new combat ship the USS Canberra.
The pair continued to put on a mostly united front, although they veered when discussing gun control and the Trans Pacific Partnership – which Mr Trump said he will hold out on signing.
Mr Turnbull then praised Australia’s gun control, although he refused to offer advice on the US’ policy.
Mr Trump also warned the world might be in for a ‘very unfortunate day’ if their latest sanctions on North Korea don’t curb their nuclear missile program.
Mr Trump could visit Australia this spring, when Trump attends regional meetings in the Pacific.
Mr Trump looked on as Mr Turnbull praised Australia’s gun control, but stopped short of suggesting the US should adopt the same policy
The US President and Prime Minister appeared to have put their tense first meeting behind them on Friday
For the occasion, Melania wore a $3,595 gold-trimmed, double-breasted coat from Dolce & Gabbana
Melania donned her signature blow-out as well as a smoky eye, and finished off her outfit with a French manicure
She looked in the distance while she and Donald waited for the Australian couple
Meanwhile, the first lady, 47, flashed a bright smile next to her husband, 71, wearing a $3,595 gold-trimmed, double-breasted coat from Dolce & Gabbana paired with equally sparkly, golden snakeskin five-inch stilettos.
Her sunny disposition contrasted with her recent behavior, which has seen her shunning public appearances with her husband and keeping her distance.
The Trumps weren’t photographed holding hands at any point during Friday’s visit however.
Last month, the pair arrived separately to his State of the Union address, breaking with tradition.
Their arrival followed claims Mr Trump had a sexual encounter with porn star Stormy Daniels after their son Barron, now 11, was born.
There has been visible tension between the Trumps amid cheating accusations
Melania has in the past few weeks declined to be seen with her husband on a couple of occasions
The president has been accused of having affairs with two different women after the birth of his and Melania’s son Barron, now 11