Nat Barr puts Penny Wong on the spot with important Donald Trump question: Why she refused to answer

Secretary of State Penny Wong has spent the morning dodging tough questions about US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the US government will now only recognize “two genders”.

Ms Wong attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington DC with Australian US Ambassador Kevin Rudd in the early hours of Tuesday, when the new US president said only “male and female” would be officially recognized under his administration.

On Seven’s Sunrise program on Tuesday, Ms Wong was asked by interviewer Natalie Barr what she had heard about Trump’s announcement on gender.

“One of the interesting things he also said: ‘That from today on there will be two genders in America, male and female’ – what did you think about that,” Barr asked Wong.

“There will be many things – domestic politics – that as foreign minister I am not going to comment on,” Ms Wong said.

‘A lot is going to change in this government, I am certainly not going to make any ongoing comments.

“What I would say is that my job, on your behalf, and the government’s job is to advocate for Australia’s interests, our economic interests and our national security interests, and we will do that.”

Ms Wong was asked an almost identical question and gave a similar answer on ABC Radio National’s breakfast program on Tuesday morning.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) declined to comment on US President Donald Trump’s move to recognize two genders

However, ABC interviewer Sally Sara put further pressure on Ms Wong.

“If President Trump is talking about rolling back diversity, equality and inclusion programs and only recognizing two genders, male and female, what will that mean for members and representatives of the Australian government and officials who will deal directly with the government to collaborate? Do you want guarantees about their treatment?’

“You are working very hard to ask me to comment on a domestic policy announcement the President made a few hours ago,” Ms. Wong responded.

‘And like I said, I don’t intend to. “I have a job to do here in Washington and that is to look after Australia’s interests: our security interests and our economic interests, and that is what I intend to do.”

Ms Wong was also coy when asked about Mr Rudd’s relations with Mr Trump, following a history of acrimony between the pair.

Ms Wong faced Sunrise shortly after Trump's inauguration (pictured, hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr)

Ms Wong faced Sunrise shortly after Trump’s inauguration (pictured, hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr)

Sunrise presenter Matt Shirvington asked Ms Wong if she thought the two men had mended their relationship, and whether she would meet the government this week.

Ms Wong only answered the second question and named a number of officials she would talk to, including the finance minister and the new foreign minister.

“This has been a very good opportunity for the country to engage with key figures in the new government with whom we want to have a very strong and open relationship,” she said.

Dr. Rudd previously called Trump a “traitor to the West,” a “village idiot” and the “most destructive president in history.”

In response, Trump said Rudd was “dirty” and that he would not last long in the role once he returned to the White House.

Earlier, Ms Wong revealed that Dr Rudd had spoken to Mr Trump before the inauguration.

Trump (photo) was sworn in for his second term as US president on Monday, local time

Trump (photo) was sworn in for his second term as US president on Monday, local time

“I understand that Mr. Rudd, Ambassador Rudd, had the opportunity to speak with the then President-elect and that he had the honor of attending the inauguration with me today and also attending the various events related to the inauguration,” Ms Wong said.

“It is truly an extraordinary event and I would like to once again extend my congratulations to President Trump and his team.

“This is a big day for them, but it is also a big day for the country and for the world. The change of an American president is of course a moment of real significance, here and around the world.’

Ms Wong was also cautious about Trump’s proposed taxes and tariffs on US imports and their impact on Australia.

“President Trump has made it clear that his agenda is to put America first, so this is not a new position, it is not a surprising position,” she said.

‘When it comes to Australia-US economic relations, the US has had a trade surplus with Australia since President Truman (mid-1900s).

“Even of the exports from Australia that go to the US, about half go into US supply chains.

“In terms of adding value to the American economy, Australia is certainly doing that and that will be my message on behalf of Australia to the Secretary of State and we will continue to express this view that the economic relationship is in America’s favor.”

During Trump’s speech, he said his administration would put an end to the effortsto socially integrate race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

“We will forge a society that is color-blind and based on merit,” he said.

“From today onwards, it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”