Ruqayyah Snyder
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull once rebuked his challenger for calling Donald Trump barking mad. However, Turnbull's personal feelings about Trump may have differed from his public statements. Trump's shadow has also loomed large over the Australian election campaigns of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who won a second term in 2025, completing a stunning turnaround for his governing center-left Labor Party. Albanese's victory was seen as a rejection of Trump-style politics and his association with some of Trump's policies. Albanese has had a warm conversation with Trump about tariffs and the AUKUS defense pact following his re-election.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian Prime Minister | Anthony Albanese |
| Australian Prime Minister's Party | Center-left Labor Party |
| Opponent | Peter Dutton |
| Opponent's Party | Conservative Liberal Party |
| Opponent's Tendencies | Trumpian, MAGA-style politics, far-right |
| Australian Prime Minister's Comments on Trump | "Not the act of a friend" |
| Australian Prime Minister's Comments on Australian Politics | "We do not seek our inspiration from overseas. We find it right here in our values and our people." |
| Australian Prime Minister's Comments on Australian Politics | "Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way." |
| Australian Prime Minister's Comments on Conversation with Trump | "Warm conversation" |
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What You'll Learn
- Trump's 10% tariff on Australia was called not the act of a friend by Albanese
- Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and clash with Zelenskyy influenced the Australian election
- Trump's policies were among the top issues in the Australian election, according to polls
- Trump's challenger, Peter Dutton, embraced MAGA-style politics and bigged up Trump
- Trump's isolationist tendencies and scepticism of alliances are at odds with Australian instincts
Trump's 10% tariff on Australia was called not the act of a friend by Albanese
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his disapproval of former U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 10% tariff on Australian goods entering the United States. This tariff was part of a global tariff regime implemented by the Trump administration, affecting various countries, including Australia.
In response to Trump's action, Albanese stated that the tariffs were "not the act of a friend." He emphasized that the U.S. tariffs lacked a logical basis and contradicted the foundation of the partnership between the two nations. Albanese also highlighted that Australia would not impose reciprocal tariffs on the United States, recognizing that doing so would increase prices for Australian households. Instead, he asserted that Australia would not engage in a "race to the bottom" that could lead to higher prices and slower economic growth.
The imposition of the tariff came during a closely fought Australian election campaign, where the cost of living was a pivotal issue. Albanese's handling of the tariffs became a point of contention in the election, with opposition leader Peter Dutton criticizing him for failing to secure a tariff exemption. Dutton, who embraced MAGA-style politics and admired Trump, argued that the tariffs reflected poorly on Albanese's relationship with the then-U.S. President.
Despite the tariff dispute, Albanese, after securing a second term as Prime Minister, mentioned having a "warm conversation" with Trump, discussing the tariffs and the AUKUS defence pact. He expressed gratitude for Trump's congratulatory message and looked forward to further engagement.
The tariff issue highlighted the differences in approach between Albanese and Dutton during the election campaign, with the former prioritizing Australia's interests and values over embracing foreign political ideologies. Albanese's victory, along with similar wins for center-left parties in other countries, signaled a rejection of U.S.-style MAGA politics and a shift towards policies that resonated more strongly with the Australian electorate.
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Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and clash with Zelenskyy influenced the Australian election
In 2025, Trump's controversial policies and actions, including his ""Liberation Day" tariffs and his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had a significant influence on the Australian federal election.
Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025, involved a two-tier structure: a 10% baseline tariff on imports from all countries except Canada and Mexico, and additional country-specific "reciprocal" tariffs targeting approximately 60 nations. Trump framed these tariffs as correcting unfair trade practices and addressing the US trade deficit. However, they triggered a global trade war, a stock market crash, and significant economic impacts, including an average tax increase of nearly $1,300 per US household. The Liberty Justice Center even sued the Trump administration over the potential unconstitutionality of these tariffs.
Trump's clash with Zelenskyy further exacerbated tensions. In a February 28, 2025, meeting, Trump berated Zelenskyy, threatened to withdraw US support, and abruptly called off a minerals deal intended to facilitate a ceasefire with Russia. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for US aid and disrespectful for airing disputes in the media. This incident deepened the diplomatic rift between the US and Ukraine and contributed to a breakdown in relations.
In the lead-up to the Australian election, Peter Dutton of the conservative Liberal Party embraced Trump-style politics and MAGA policies. He praised Trump and modelled his campaign after the US Republican Party's platform, advocating for public sector cuts and a government efficiency unit. However, Dutton's alignment with Trump backfired, as Australians grew concerned about the influence of US-style politics.
On the other hand, the incumbent Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese of the center-left Labor Party, distanced himself from Trump-style politics. During his victory speech, Albanese emphasized that Australians "do not seek our inspiration from overseas" and that his government would "choose the Australian way." Albanese's win mirrored a broader trend, as voters in Australia and other countries rejected conservative candidates and embraced center-left alternatives.
While Trump was not on the ballot, his presence loomed large in the Australian election. The combination of the controversial "Liberation Day" tariffs, the clash with Zelenskyy, and the broader rejection of Trump-style politics influenced Australian voters, contributing to a backlash against Dutton and a victory for Albanese and the center-left Labor Party.
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Trump's policies were among the top issues in the Australian election, according to polls
In 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the centre-left Labor Party won a second consecutive term in office, defeating the conservative Liberal-National coalition led by Peter Dutton. Albanese's victory was partly driven by anger over Donald Trump's trade policies and their effect on the close military alliance between the US and Australia.
Trump's influence was also felt in the Australian election through the influence of his style of politics on the conservative candidate, Dutton. Over three years as opposition leader, Dutton embraced MAGA-style politics, praised Trump's negotiation tactics, and borrowed heavily from the policy platform of the US Republican Party under Trump. Dutton's campaign advocated for significant cuts to the public service and proposed (and then abandoned) a policy to force public servants back into full-time work in the office.
Dutton's embrace of Trump-like policies was ultimately unsuccessful, with voters rejecting Trumpian tendencies and culture wars. Albanese struck a different tone, alluding to his opponent's failed embrace of Trump-like policies and emphasising the importance of Australian values and sovereignty. He noted that Australians had chosen to face global challenges "the Australian way", and that his government would find inspiration in Australian values rather than overseas.
Following his election victory, Albanese had a \"warm conversation\" with Trump, discussing tariffs and the AUKUS defence pact. Despite their differences, Albanese expressed gratitude for Trump's positive outreach and congratulated him on his win.
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Trump's challenger, Peter Dutton, embraced MAGA-style politics and bigged up Trump
Trump's challenger, Peter Dutton, embraced MAGA-style politics and praised Trump. In February, Dutton called Trump a “big thinker” and praised his "art of the deal" negotiation tactics. He also borrowed heavily from the U.S. Republican Party's policies under Trump, calling for significant cuts to the public service and championing a DOGE-inspired government efficiency unit.
Dutton's campaign was heavily influenced by Trump's politics, and he even appointed Jacinta Price to an Elon Musk-style government efficiency role. He attempted to undercut the appeal of far-right parties by adopting some of their policies and language. However, Dutton's focus on culture wars instead of the economy may have ultimately cost him support.
Dutton's embrace of MAGA-style politics backfired, with voters interpreting Albanese's victory as a repudiation of Trumpism and a revival of social democratic politics. Trump's return to office breathed new life into centre-left parties and laid a trap for conservative leaders like Dutton.
Clive Palmer, Australia's biggest political spender, also targeted Dutton with a $90 million MAGA-style election pitch. Palmer's "Make Australia Great Again" platform threatened to steal votes from Dutton, further contributing to the perception of Dutton's association with Trumpism.
While Dutton was never a direct clone of Trump, his adoption of MAGA-style politics and his praise for Trump damaged his image, especially as Trump became increasingly unpopular in Australia.
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Trump's isolationist tendencies and scepticism of alliances are at odds with Australian instincts
Trump's isolationist tendencies and scepticism of alliances have often been at odds with Australia's instincts. The United States is Australia's third-biggest trading partner and its most important diplomatic and security ally.
Trump's protectionist trade policies and his scepticism of multilateral institutions have been particularly concerning for Australia. The country has traditionally relied on its network of alliances and free trade agreements to ensure its security and prosperity.
Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Australia in April 2025, for example, was seen as a betrayal of the close relationship between the two countries. The tariffs prompted the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to say that this was "not the act of a friend".
Trump's isolationist tendencies have also been reflected in his approach to defence and security. His scepticism of NATO and other alliances has been a cause for concern in Australia, which relies on its alliances for security. This includes the AUKUS defence pact with the US and the UK, which Australia has committed to spending $238 billion on over 30 years to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Trump's isolationism and scepticism of alliances have influenced Australian politics, with the hard-right prime ministerial candidate Peter Dutton embracing MAGA-style politics and Trump-like policies during the 2025 election campaign. However, Dutton's campaign ultimately backfired, and the centre-left Labor Party, led by Albanese, secured a landslide victory. Albanese's win has been interpreted as a rejection of Trump-style politics and a return to Australia's traditional instincts of engagement and cooperation with allies.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor Party won a second consecutive term in a stunning comeback against the conservative Liberal-National coalition, which embraced MAGA-style politics and was led by Peter Dutton, who was a Trump supporter. Albanese's victory was a rejection of Trump-style politics.
Trump's shadow loomed large over the Australian election. His clash with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his ""Liberation Day" tariffs were seen as contributing to the defeat of the conservative opposition.
Albanese has said that his government will choose "the Australian way" and that they do not "seek inspiration from overseas". He has also referred to tariffs imposed by Trump as "not the act of a friend".
Trump has said that he did not follow the Australian election and that he does not know Albanese well, but that the Prime Minister has been "very nice" and "respectful" to him.
