Pacific

New Zealand leader has 'sensible, polite' talk with Trump

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Thursday, May 21, 2015, file photo, New Zealand's Finance Minister Bill English delivers his budget speech to analysts and reporters in Wellington, New Zealand. On Tuesday, English said he told U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable. (AP Photo/Nick Perry/File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as he arrives on Air Force One at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Fla. New Zealand's Prime Minister Bill English said Tuesday he told Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara/File) (The Associated Press)

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.

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.

English said he told Trump he disagreed with the contested refugee ban but didn't berate him over it.

"I'm not there to scold him, although a lot of people might like us to do that," English said.