Trump blasts Malcolm Turnbull, says ex-Australian PM ‘never understood China’ |
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, calling him a “weak and ineffective leader” in a late-night post on social media, following Turnbull’s recent criticism of Trump’s leadership style.
Posting on Truth Social just before midnight in Washington, 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!!!”
The comments appeared to be a direct response to an interview Turnbull gave to Bloomberg, in which he described Trump’s leadership as chaotic and a strategic advantage for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“President Xi will aim to be the exact opposite of Trump,” Turnbull said in the interview. “Where Trump is chaotic, he will be consistent. Where Trump is rude and abusive, he’ll be respectful. Where Trump is erratic, he will be stable.”
Turnbull warned that US allies may find China a more reliable partner than a Trump-led America, especially amid growing global uncertainty.
“His (Trump’s) post proves that my comments hit the mark,” Turnbull said in a brief response to The Guardian, adding that his remarks “speak for themselves.”
Trump and Turnbull have a turbulent history. In 2017, shortly after Trump assumed office, the two leaders had a tense phone call over a refugee resettlement deal brokered by former US President Barack Obama. Trump reportedly told Turnbull the agreement was “the worst deal ever” and said accepting it would make him “look like a dope.”
Despite the rocky call, the two men appeared friendly in later encounters. Turnbull has previously noted that Trump would often bring up Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer during their meetings — even while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron.
Turnbull served as Australia’s prime minister from 2015 to 2018. He was ousted not by a general election but by an internal leadership challenge within the ruling Liberal Party, which saw Scott Morrison take over as party leader and prime minister.
Trump, who returned to the White House in January for a second term, has ramped up criticism of international allies in recent weeks, particularly over their positions on China, trade, and security.
