The President of the United States returned to New York on Thursday for the first time since taking office in the White House on Jan. 20, although several protests were awaiting him in the city where he was born.

In New York, Trump he was set to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Intrepid Naval Museum, a retired US Navy vessel that is anchored on the Hudson River.

On the occasion of Trump's return to New York, at least three protests were held in the city, including in the vicinity of Trump Tower where the US President had lived before arriving at the White House as well as in the area surrounding the Intrepid Naval Museum. 

According to The Guardian,  hundreds of protesters waited for him near the vessel clattering pots and pans, chanting “Shame, shame, shame” and holding posters reading: “Impeach the Freak.”

Trump last left New York on Jan. 19 for the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 and has not returned to New York since.

His wife, First Lady Melania Trump, is currently staying at Trump Tower in New York, until the end of the school year for their son, Barron, before settling permanently in the White House in Washington D.C.

During his meeting in New York with Turnbull, Trump praised Australia's universal public health system:

"We have a failing health care - I shouldn't say this to our great gentleman and my friend from Australia, because you have better health care than we do," Donald Trump said.

The remark came after the US Republicans narrowly approved legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, introduced under former president Barack Obama.

The act, known as Obamacare, was introduced to improve access to health care by requiring all Americans to have health insurance, and offering subsidies to make coverage more affordable.

The health care reform that Trump wants to bring into law would leave more than 24 million people without health insurance, according to a report by the independent Congressional Budget Office.

The US is the only developed country that does not provide minimum health coverage for every citizen and taxpayer, with the exception of Medicare (for retirees) and Medicaid (for low-income earners), which could also suffer cutbacks under Trump.

In contrast, Australia has a universal health care system, which is similar to the US' Medicare program but covers every citizen.

Following Trump's remarks, Senator Bernie Sanders took aim at the apparent discord between words and policy.

"Thank you Mr. Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate," he wrote on Twitter.