Joyce apologizes for calling Australian PM 'liar'

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce apologized publicly on Saturday to Prime Minister Scott Morrison for calling him a "liar" and a "hypocrite" in a text message last year.

In a news conference in Sydney, the National Party leader said his comments in March 2021 were "based on assumption and commentary" while sitting on the backbench of the country's parliament.

Joyce also claimed that he personally apologized to Morrison and offered his resignation as deputy prime minister on Thursday after the text message was leaked. Morrison did not accept the resignation, Joyce told reporters.