At an earlier press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Americas Editor John Lyons went head-to-head with U.S. President Donald Trump. The fierceness of their debate had everyone on the edge of their seats. Lyons’ accreditation to attend any future event has been permanently revoked. It was no coincidence that Downing Street announced this decision within hours of that confrontation.
The incident unfolded when Lyons, reporting for Four Corners, posed a direct question to President Trump regarding his wealth accumulation since returning to the Oval Office for a second term in January. Lyons inquired, “Is it appropriate, President Trump, that a president in office should be engaged in so much business activity?” Trump was apparently so caught off guard by the question that he reacted defensively right away. He claimed that Lyons was “doing real damage to Australia” by asking his questions.
Throughout the exchange, Trump attempted to redirect the conversation, stating, “Well, I’m really not. My kids are running the business. You know what the activity – where are you from?” In a desperate attempt to get back on message, Trump ordered Lyons to shut up. This exchange highlighted the difficult relationship President Trump has with foreign press in the context of press briefings.
Following this horror and confrontation, the Trump administration doubled down on social media. Tans branded Lyons as a “foreign fake news loser” on the school district’s official X account. Tellingly, the ABC was among the first to find out that their designated journalist’s accreditation had been withdrawn for “logistical reasons.” This decision sparked a firestorm of criticism from Australian politicians and media outlets.
Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke in support of Lyons, arguing that the integrity and freedom of journalists was vital. In light of this, she called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take action against the criticism directed at Australian journalists.
“John Lyons is a highly awarded journalist and one of the most experienced and respected reporters in Australia. His job is to ask questions.” – Justin Stevens
In fact, Hanson-Young’s statement represents a growing alarm about the attacks on journalists and press freedoms. That incident has opened up a necessary debate about the limits of questioning in a political context, especially when addressing foreign heads of state.