Trump 'goes on rant' in call with French president

A recent phone call between Donald Trump and French President Francois Hollande appears to have gone almost as badly as the US president’s conversation with Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Trump used much of his January 28 chat with Mr Hollande to rant against NATO and how its members and China were taking advantage of the US, a senior official told Politico.

Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Hollande the French could protect NATO, but that the US “wants our money back”.

The new US president seemed to be “obsessing over money,” the official said.

“It was a difficult conversation, because he talks like he’s speaking publicly.”

“It’s not the usual way heads of state speak to each other. He speaks with slogans and the conversation was not completely organised.”

The two presidents did, however, manage to discuss some common ground - their concerns about terrorism and the Islamic State.

An official White House readout of the call appeared to contradict the official’s version of events, however, reporting Mr Trump had actually “reaffirmed the US commitment to NATO” during the call.

Mr Trump’s conversation with the French President took place on the same day as Prime Minister Turnbull’s disastrous call with the US leader.

In their call, Mr Trump blasted Australia’s refugee deal, negotiated with Barack Obama, which would see the US accepting 1,250 of our refugees.

Mr Trump described the call with Turnbull as the “worst by far” and accused Australia of trying to send the US the next Boston bombers.

The day before, Mr Trump spoke to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and reaffirmed his pledge to make Mexico pay for a border wall. Mr Trump also offered to send some troops to help clear out all the “bad hombres down there”.