Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump has mentioned Australia in a series of tweets he posted on Wednesday to denounce reports of problems in his transition team.
Less than 24 hours after coming under fire for a lack of media contact and for not providing transparency via a traditional press pool, he singled out The New York Times for saying world leaders have had trouble getting in touch with him.
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Trump name-checks Australia in Twitter rant
It's no surprise that US President-elect Donald Trump used his favourite social media platform to hit out at a New York Times story about his transition team.
Mr Trump, whose aggressive use of Twitter against rivals was a key element of his presidential campaign, tweeted a list of several world leaders he had spoken to since his upset victory in the November 8 presidential election. They included Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull.
The failing @nytimes story is so totally wrong on transition. It is going so smoothly. Also, I have spoken to many foreign leaders.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
I have recieved and taken calls from many foreign leaders despite what the failing @nytimes said. Russia, U.K., China, Saudi Arabia, Japan,
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Australia, New Zealand, and more. I am always available to them. @nytimes is just upset that they looked like fools in their coverage of me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Mr Trump focused on the Times, a frequent Twitter target, because it said US allies were "scrambling to figure out how and when to contact Mr Trump".
He also hit out at suggestions he would be seeking security clearance for his children.
I am not trying to get "top level security clearance" for my children. This was a typically false news story.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
He also defended his transition team on Tuesday night amid reports the team is in disarray, appearing to compare the contest for administration jobs to one of his reality TV shows.
Very organized process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Entering Trump Tower in New York on Wednesday morning, Mr Trump's son, Eric Trump, was asked by reporters if any positions would be named on Wednesday. He responded, "Likely."
The President-elect tweeting about contacts with foreign leaders on such a public forum drew immediate criticism, with conservative political commentator David Frum questioning the wisdom of such posts.
Vladimir Putin reading Trump Twitter feed this AM. “So Merkel has not yet called him? Hmm. That’s useful to know.”
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 16, 2016
Long-time Trump supporter Chris Collins, the transition team's congressional liaison, brushed off the morning Twitter storm, saying Mr Trump was under a lot of pressure and needed to blow off steam.
"If this is his way of relaxing, God bless him," Mr Collins told CNN. "You don't want this stuff all bottled up."
During his campaign, Mr Trump has attacked media reports he found unfavourable to him, often targeting the Times by referring to it as "failing" while regularly granting its reporters interviews.
The New York Times had reported that Mr Trump did not receive any briefings before speaking to world leaders.
Trump had no State Department briefing materials for his first calls with world leaders. He was just talking. https://t.co/i2K7SfEbUh
— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) November 16, 2016
The paper reported on Wednesday that the presidents of Egypt and Israel got through to Mr Trump quickly but British Prime Minister Theresa May had to wait 24 hours before reaching him.
Since his upset win over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump has also spoken to the leaders of other countries, including those of Russia, China and Saudi Arabia.
Last week, he spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who on Thursday will be the first foreign leader Mr Trump meets as President-elect.
Mr Trump, whose aggressive use of Twitter reportedly led to a Twitter ban being imposed on him in the final days of the campaign, said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview broadcast on Sunday that he would be "very restrained" on Twitter as president, if he used it at all.
Reuters