Ruqayyah Snyder
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that leaders should not give in to bullies after being criticised by former US President Donald Trump in a late-night social media post. In the post, Trump accused Turnbull of being a 'weak and ineffective leader who led Australia from behind and did not understand China. This exchange is not the first time the two leaders have clashed, with a contentious phone call between the pair in 2017 being leaked, and Trump threatening to walk away from an Obama-era deal on asylum seekers and impose tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 28 January 2017 |
| People involved | Donald Trump, Malcolm Turnbull |
| Positions | President of the United States, Prime Minister of Australia |
| Nature of the conversation | Contentious, incoherent, ill-informed |
| Topics discussed | Refugees, immigration, national security, border protection, ISIS, China |
| Outcome | Leaked transcript, criticism of Trump's conduct |
| Later developments | Trump criticised Turnbull on social media, accused him of being weak and ineffective, Turnbull responded by calling Trump a bully |
| Timeline of events | Trump-Turnbull meeting in 2017, Turnbull's term as PM from 2015-2018, Trump's criticism in 2025 |
| Impact on relations | Highlighted differences in values and approaches between the US and Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's criticism of Turnbull on social media
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was criticised by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post on Truth Social. Trump's post was in response to an interview Turnbull gave to Bloomberg, in which he suggested that Trump's second term would benefit China.
In the post, Trump accused Turnbull of leading Australia from "behind" and not understanding China. He also described Turnbull as a "weak and ineffective leader". Trump wrote:
> "Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister of Australia, who was always leading that wonderful country from 'behind,' never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so. I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader, and obviously, Australians agreed with me!!!""
Turnbull responded to Trump's comments, describing them as "rude and abusive". He also said that Trump's behaviour towards allies would push them closer to China:
> "If Trump abuses them, seeks to bully them, puts crippling tariffs on them, they will naturally edge closer to China."
Turnbull also argued that Australia should consider how to defend itself independently of the US, citing Trump's rude treatment of American allies. During Trump's first term in office, he threatened to impose tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports, which Turnbull successfully argued against. Trump also threatened to walk away from an Obama-era deal between the US and Australia on asylum seekers.
Ideological differences between Trump and Turnbull were also evident in their respective approaches to international relations. Trump is sympathetic to isolationism, while Australians are inclined towards internationalism. Trump has also expressed admiration for autocrats and strongmen, which contrasts with Australia's democratic values.
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Leaked transcript of Trump and Turnbull's phone call
On 28 January 2017, US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull engaged in a contentious phone call, the transcript of which was later leaked to the media. The call covered a range of topics, including national security, border protection, and the resettlement of refugees.
Turnbull: I believe you and I have similar backgrounds, unusual for politicians, more businessman, but I look forward to working together.
Trump: That is exactly right. We do have similar backgrounds, and it seems to be working in this climate—it is a crazy climate. Let me tell you this, it is an evil time, but it is a complex time because we do not have uniforms standing in front of us. Instead, we have people in disguise. It is brutal. This Isis thing—it is something we are going to devote a lot of energy to it. I think we are going to be very successful.
Trump: Do you know four years ago, Malcolm, I was with a man who does this for a living. He was telling me, before the migration, that if you were a Christian from Syria, you had no chance of coming to the United States. Zero. They were the ones being persecuted. When I say persecuted, I mean their heads were being chopped off. If you were a Muslim, we have nothing against Muslims, but if you were a Muslim, you were not persecuted at least to the extent that if you were a Muslim from Syria, that was the number one place to get into the United States from. That was the easiest thing. But if you were a Christian from Syria, you had no chance of getting into the United States. I just thought it was an incredible statistic. Totally true—and you have seen the same thing. It is incredible.
Turnbull: Well, yes. Mr President, can I return to the issue of the resettlement agreement that we had with the Obama administration with respect to some people on Nauru and Manus Island? The agreement, which the vice president just called the foreign minister about less than 24 hours ago and said your administration would be continuing, does not require you to take 2,000 people. It does not require you to take any. It requires, in return, for us to do a number of things for the United States—this is a big deal, I think we should respect deals.
Trump: Good.
Turnbull: Yes, but let me describe what it is. I think it is quite consistent. I think you can comply with it. It is absolutely consistent with your executive order, so please just hear me out. The obligation is for the United States to look and examine and take up to and only if they so choose—1,250 to 2,000. Every individual is subject to your vetting. You can decide to take them or not take them after vetting.
Trump: You are worse than I am.
The phone call between the two leaders highlighted their differing views on immigration and refugee policies, with Trump expressing his concerns about the resettlement agreement and Turnbull defending the deal. The leak of the transcript sparked discussions about the state of the relationship between the US and Australia and the potential impact on their alliance.
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Trump's accusation of Turnbull being a weak leader
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been criticised by former US President Donald Trump, who accused him of being a "weak and ineffective leader". In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Turnbull led Australia from "behind" and did not understand China. He also claimed that Australians agreed with his assessment of their former prime minister.
Turnbull served as Australia's prime minister from 2015 to 2018, which included part of Trump's first term in office. The two leaders had a somewhat tumultuous relationship, with Trump threatening to walk away from an Obama-era deal on asylum seekers and impose tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports. Despite this, they did work together on certain issues, such as fighting ISIS and other terrorist groups, and shaping a more peaceful Asia-Pacific region.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Turnbull suggested that a second Trump term would benefit Chinese President Xi Jinping due to the Republican's chaotic leadership style. He argued that some countries may view the US under Trump as an unreliable partner and consider China a more attractive alternative. Turnbull also criticised Trump's treatment of American allies, suggesting that Australia should consider how to defend itself independently of the US.
In response to Trump's post on Truth Social, Turnbull stated that leaders should "not give in to bullies" and described the former US president's comments as rude and abusive. He stood by his previous comments, arguing that Trump's behaviour towards allies would push them closer to China.
The exchange between the two former leaders highlights their differing views on international relations and leadership styles. While Trump favours an isolationist and confrontational approach, Turnbull, as an old democracy and free society, leans towards internationalism and alliance-building.
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Turnbull's response to Trump's criticism
In March 2025, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull responded to criticism from then-US President Donald Trump, who accused him of being a "weak and ineffective leader" who never "understood" China. Turnbull described Trump's comments as "rude and abusive", and asserted that leaders should "not give in to bullies".
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Turnbull suggested that Trump's second term would benefit Chinese President Xi Jinping due to the Republican's chaotic leadership style. He argued that some countries may view the US under Trump as an unreliable partner and consider China a "more attractive" alternative. Turnbull's comments appear to have struck a nerve with Trump, who lashed out at the former Australian Prime Minister on his Truth Social platform.
While Turnbull's response to Trump's criticism specifically addressed the former US President's comments, it also highlighted the broader implications of his leadership style on global alliances and the potential impact on Australia's relationships with key partners, including the US and China. Turnbull's experience as Prime Minister navigating the complexities of the Australia-US relationship during the Trump era offers insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise when dealing with a mercurial and unpredictable leader on the world stage.
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Trump's threat of tariffs on Australian exports
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that leaders should "not give in to bullies" after being criticised by former US President Donald Trump. In a social media post, Trump accused Turnbull of being a "weak and ineffective leader" who led Australia from "behind" and did not understand China. This was in response to Turnbull's interview with Bloomberg, where he suggested that Trump's second term would benefit China due to his chaotic leadership style.
Turnbull's comments on Trump's leadership style and the potential impact on China have sparked a response from the former US President. Trump's criticism of Turnbull extends beyond their differing views on China. In a leaked transcript of a phone call with Turnbull, Trump expressed his disagreement with the former Australian Prime Minister on immigration and refugee policies.
Amidst this backdrop of tensions, Trump has recently threatened to impose tariffs on Australian exports, specifically targeting pharmaceuticals, a major Australian export to the US. The proposed tariff rate is as high as 200 per cent, and it is expected to significantly impact the Australian economy, with billions of dollars of exports at stake. This threat of tariffs adds a new dimension to the already strained relationship between Trump and Turnbull.
The Australian government has expressed concern over Trump's tariff threats, with Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers urgently seeking more details on the proposed tariffs. The impact of these tariffs could be substantial, as Australia exported $2.1 billion worth of pharmaceuticals to the US in 2024. In addition to pharmaceuticals, copper is also expected to be subject to a 50 per cent tariff, further compounding the potential economic consequences for Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Trump did not threaten Turnbull's career. However, in 2025, Trump criticised Turnbull, calling him a "weak and ineffective leader" in a social media post. This was in response to Turnbull's interview with Bloomberg, where he suggested that Trump's second term would be an "advantage" for China due to his chaotic leadership style.
Turnbull responded by saying that leaders should "not give in to bullies" and described Trump's comments as "rude and abusive". He also argued that being "sycophantic" towards Trump would not achieve the desired outcome for world leaders.
Yes, Trump and Turnbull met in New York City on May 4, 2017, to discuss the enduring bonds, deep friendship, and close alliance between the United States and Australia.
