Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden at his private home on September 20, 2024, during his visit to the United States for the Quad summit, which includes leaders from the U.S., Japan, and India. The meeting was marked by discussions on various topics, including Indo-Pacific security, the AUKUS partnership, and economic issues [527e6b75].
However, the meeting was overshadowed by a gaffe made by Albanese regarding the U.S. economy. Former Obama advisor Betsey Stevenson criticized Albanese for his incorrect claims about the U.S. economic performance. While Albanese suggested that the U.S. economy was struggling, recent data indicates that the U.S. GDP grew by 3% in the year leading up to June 2024, in stark contrast to Australia's GDP growth of only 1% during the same period [527e6b75].
Despite the misstep, Albanese described the meeting with Biden as a privilege and engaging, emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the two nations. Biden has been actively endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential race, which adds another layer of significance to the discussions held during Albanese's visit [527e6b75].