President Donald Trump met with the prime minister of Australia. They signed an agreement on Australia's rare-earth minerals and discussed trade and the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

From the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump waxed lyrical about his country's friendship with Australia. "We've been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there's never been anybody better," Trump told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at the pair's first official meeting.

Some Trump officials had questioned whether the U.S. could afford the deal when Washington is trying to bulk up its own fleet.

President Donald Trump jokingly disparaged Kevin Rudd, Australia‘s ambassador to the United States, over negative comments Rudd made about the president in the past during a Monday morning bilateral with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.