#Bringthemhere, say Australian activists after Trump, Turnbull discuss refugee deal

US President Donald Trump called a refugee swap deal with Australia "dumb" in a tweet on Thursday.

The Washington Post had reported that Trump's telephone call with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull over the deal was hostile. According to the Post, Trump said that the resettlement plan was "the worst deal ever" and accused Australia of trying to export the "next Boston bombers".

Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2017

Turnbull, in turn, described the call with the new POTUS as "frank and candid". "I do stand up for Australia. My job is to defend Australian interests," he is quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

The Guardian quoted him as saying, "We have a commitment from the US president, confirmed several times now by the government. This is not a deal that he would have done or that he would regard as a good deal … But the question is, will he commit to honour the deal and he has given that commitment."

In 2016, Australia had struck a deal with former President Barack Obama for the United States to resettle up to 1,250 asylum seekers held in offshore processing camps on Pacific islands in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru. Many of those being held in the Australian detention centres have fled violence in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. 

The swap deal is in conflict with Trump's recent order to put a four-month hold on the US refugee programme and bar entry of citizens from seven predominantly Muslim-majority countries.

While Trump and Turnbull leaders debate over the fate of the refugees, activists have called for the resettlement of refugees in Australia.

#BringThemHere As everyone tweets about Trump & Turnbull: back on Nauru a pregnant woman needs desperately to be flown to Australia.

— MARGARET BARBALET (@EvelynBarbalet) February 2, 2017

What a mess. These lives are in Turnbull's hands, not Trump's. Time for Turnbull to #bringthemhere https://t.co/f6Uceyywfi

— Daniel Webb (@DanielHRLC) February 2, 2017

.@RichardMarlesMP It's time for Labor to dump its bipartisan support for offshore cruelty #BringThemHere

— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) February 2, 2017

I wonder if the loudest calling for #Bringthemhere live in streets or estates where they're guaranteed never to see them near their house?

— Jen Johnson (@jenjohnson6) February 2, 2017

C'mon Aust lets not give up on #refugees. Make yr voice heard & call @TurnbullMalcolm #Bringthemhere #auspol pic.twitter.com/jsiqBXPEfQ

— Lynetta G (@artbylynettag) February 2, 2017

It's disgusting that Trump rejected's refugees.

The only thing worse, first rejected these people needing safety. #bringthemhere

— Jarrod McKenna  (@jarrodmckenna) February 2, 2017

I want you all to call your local MP to demand #BringThemHere.

Here's a thread on behalf of @ASRC1 on how so you feel empowered to

RT's 

— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) February 2, 2017

They're not political fodder - they're people. #BringThemHere

— Blair Jones (@blairjones640) February 2, 2017

So, Turnbull grovels to Trump for 25 minutes while President berates him over refugee deal.
PM doing Aussies proud ! #not#BringThemHere

— Jim Pembroke (@Jim_Pembroke) February 2, 2017