Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull found himself under fire from US President Donald Trump as the political climate heats up over impending tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium. On March 10, 2025, Trump took to the social media platform Truth Social, launching a scathing attack on Turnbull, whom he described as a weak and ineffective leader who never understood what was going on in China. Trump expressed his belief, bluntly stating, I always thought he was weak and ineffective, and, obviously, Australians agreed with me!!!
This tirade appears to be Trumps response to comments made by Turnbull during his interview with Bloomberg Australia. During the interview, Turnbull characterized Trump as chaotic, rude, abusive, and erratic, warning of how Trumps unpredictability could advantage China at the expense of the US. Turnbull stated, What China will do is they will say they'll be the opposite of Trump: where Trump is erratic, they'll be consistent.
Following Trump's comments, Turnbull responded on the ABCs 7.30 program, where he cautioned against Australia becoming a conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House, paying homage to this guy, telling him hes a genius. He stressed, If you suck up to bullies, whether it’s global affairs or in the playground, you just get more bullying.
The timing of this spat coincides with the Albanese governments tense negotiations with the White House concerning potential exemptions from the upcoming tariffs. A decision by Trump on these exemptions is expected shortly as the tariffs are set to be implemented on March 13, 2025. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously expressed optimism about receiving these exemptions, hoping to engage constructively with the Trump administration from their shared trade relationship.
Australia is making its case for exemptions based on its significant import of US goods—$70 billion annually compared to only $30 billion it exports to the US. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell has emphasized this point strongly, reiteratively communicating to US officials the weight of Australias support of the American economy.
Despite these efforts, there are growing concerns within the Albanese government. Kevin Hassett, Trumps top economic advisor, cast doubt on whether any exemptions would be granted. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has indicated they are realistic about the situation, noting similarities to Turnbull's struggles during his premiership when he sought tariff exemptions. Wong remarked, Given what has happened since then, we have an even greater hill to climb.
Turnbull himself, who successfully negotiated similar exemptions back when he was Prime Minister during Trumps first term, acknowledged the challenging climate. He suggested the governments argument was rinsing and repeating the same discussions of 2018 but with greater difficulties. He noted Trump had likely regretted granting those exemptions initially, as it set a precedent for other countries. There has been attempts to set Albanese up to fail on something he’s most unlikely to succeed at,” Turnbull claimed.
The political dynamic is particularly delicate, as Trump's social media post not only insulted Turnbull personally but also indicated potential consequences for Australias diplomatic posture. Turnbull explained to ABCs 7.30 program, If Trump abuses them and seeks to bully them, they will naturally edge closer to China. He believes this could lead countries to prefer aligning with China rather than engaging with the often volatile Trump administration.
From the perspective of the current government, securing trade exemptions amid such volatile leadership poses significant complications. With the looming deadline for tariffs, the atmosphere is rife with uncertainty. Australian Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, has recently met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as they continue to press the Australian case to American officials.
Farrell indicated no immediate plans to travel to the US may suggest the government anticipates unfavorable outcomes. Prior to the Trump administration setting forth these tariffs, Turnbull had managed to create opportunities for Australia, which makes the present apprehension all the more potent.
The backdrop also features memories of when Trump and Turnbull clashed over the 2017 refugee deal brokered by Obama. The fallout from those exchanges, primarily centered around Trumps characterization of the agreement, highlighted deeply ingrained tensions between the two leaders. Moving forward, it remains to be seen whether Australia can secure favorable treatment under the Trump administration.
Turnbulls actions following this recent diplomatic spat continue to resonate significantly within policy circles. He insists on the importance of frank dialogue among allies, positing, The impact Trump is having on the world, on the Western alliance, markets, and our economies is something we need to talk about. His call for leadership seems both prescient and integral, as the world watches how these international connections ebb and flow.
What is clear is the upcoming days will prove pivotal for Australias trade relations with the US and perhaps reveal more about Trumps strategic thinking as international affairs evolve.