Now, according to the latest reports, this meeting with Trump in the Oval Office is not going to occur. It seems that Albanese is likely to meet Trump briefly for the first time at a reception that Trump will be hosting near the UN on Tuesday (US time). What matters are the results achieved with or without a meeting, and here there are reasons for doubting that a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office would serve Australia’s interests. However, despite Trump meeting the major NATO countries’ heads of government, the US is no longer providing any assistance. In sum, the US cannot afford to walk away from Australia whatever the relationship between Albanese and Trump.