After demanding Australia grant asylum to Iran soccer players, Trump says Albanese is ‘on it… Five already taken care of’

After calling out Australia for not granting asylum to members of Iran’s soccer team currently down under, US President Donald Trump says Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has agreed to allow the players to stay after the pair held a phone call earlier today.

“He’s on it!” Trump says of Albanese in a Truth Social post.

“Five [players] have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,” he says.

“Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return,” Trump adds, hailing Albanese’s conduct.

Iranian players refused to sing ahead of an Asian Cup tournament match in Australia last week — a gesture widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic. Canberra has so far declined to comment on whether it could offer the players asylum.

According to local media reports, five of the players reached Australian police and are seeking asylum.

While Trump decided to weigh in on behalf of the Iranian soccer players in Australia, his administration has deported migrants back to Iran over the past year, including in the weeks leading up to the ongoing US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.