He's the reporter whose sensational story dropped a political bombshell 16,000 kilometres away.
Washington Post White House bureau chief Philip Rucker caught Canberra, Washington and foreign policy watchers around the world by surprise on Thursday with an explosive account of Donald Trump's combative phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, described as new President's worst call with a roster of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Worst call by far: Trump
The US President has taken to Twitter, this time revealing his thoughts on Australia's refugee deal as PM Malcolm Turnbull assures us, the agreement is still in play. Courtesy 2GB.
Minutes after the story was posted online, Rucker started fielding calls from Australian media outlets wanting his insider account of the potential clash between the leaders of the two longstanding allies.
Mr Trump reportedly hung up after a 25-minute call in which he blasted Mr Turnbull, bragged about his electoral victory and accused the Australian Prime Minister of wanting to export the "next Boston bombers" to the US from Manus Island and Nauru.
Rucker told the ABC that President Trump was unconcerned about the alliance with Australia or diplomacy.
"He doesn't really care so much that Australia is an ally over many, many years. What he cares about is the refugee policy that he has used as – that he views as dangerous for the United States. So he didn't let diplomatic niceties get in the way of how he felt about that refugee policy," he said.
The journalist said he learnt about the robust communications between the heads of state via US officials.
"My understanding from sources familiar with the conversation is that the Prime Minister and President Trump agreed that a number of these refugees, about 1200, would be allowed to be part of the screening process to enter the United States," Mr Rucker told Sky News.
"But what President Trump said is that he would use "extreme vetting" to make sure that nobody who's dangerous would enter the United States.
"Nevertheless Trump was upset with having to keep the agreement and actually used the words 'my intention' is to keep the agreement, which gives him a little bit of negotiating wriggle room down the road if he chooses not to go through with the deal."
Rucker, who wrote the account with Washington Post colleague Greg Miller, said it was not clear if President Trump would keep the deal originally struck with President Barack Obama before he left office.
Mr Turnbull had previously described the call as constructive and reaffirming of Australia's longstanding links with the US but after the brutal account reached Australia on Thursday, after days of mixed messages from the White House, he refused to be drawn.
"Trump, according to our sources, told the Prime Minister of Australia that this was the worst call of the day by far, including Putin," Mr Rucker said.
"As you know, President Trump has very hard views about refugee policy and he does not want dangerous people ... to be entering the United States.
"I assume he will look for some way to get out of this agreement, however ... it is something the US feels the need to stand by and we're just going to have to see how the further negotiations go."