Australia has a real problem with ex-prime ministers wilfully forgetting the ‘ex-’ part of their job description. The more inflated their egos, the more they seem to forget that they were chucked out of office and that no one wants to hear from them any more. Contrary to all evidence, these fellows labour under the delusion that they are the smartest guys in any room (just ask them!) and that an eager public still waits breathlessly for their every opinion.
Kevin Rudd is one such grandiose narcissist. His ideological fellow-traveller (if party-political opposite) Malcolm Turnbull is another. Both are, utterly unsurprisingly, also completely demented by Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Unfortunately, what these legends in their own lunchtimes forget is that the consequences of their flapping thumbs haunt everyone else, long after the ego-hit of a few social media likes has faded away. Thanks to Turnbull’s big mouth and even bigger ego, he has made it all but certain Australia will fail to escape US President Donald Trump’s new tariff regime.
Australia’s hopes of securing an exemption from Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs this week have been dealt a blow after the US President lashed Malcolm Turnbull – who won a carve-out from Mr Trump’s first-term tariffs – as a “weak and ineffective leader”.
The withering attack on the former prime minister came after Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, failed to make headway in last-ditch talks with the Trump administration on a hoped-for waiver.
Why would Trump listen to either of these loudmouth has-beens? He’s not about to forget in a hurry what both have said about him, just to pander to the social media peanut gallery. A chastised-at-least Rudd quickly deleted his social media sneering as soon as Trump’s thumping election win became plain. Turnbull just can’t help himself.
The attack on Mr Turnbull came after the former prime minister warned the President’s abuse of the US’s closest allies was providing “an opportunity” for China’s President Xi Jinping.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Mr 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, Australian’s (sic) agreed with me!!!”
Bruising the ego of a two-bit Napoleon like Turnbull is guaranteed to have exactly one result.
Responding to Mr Trump’s attack, Mr Turnbull told the ABC’s 7.30 the President was a bully who wanted people to suck up to him.
Takes one to know one, fella.
“Are we just going to become just a conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House, paying homage to this guy and telling him he’s a genius? It’s ludicrous,” he said.
Gee, thanks for the diplomatic contribution, creep. That sound you’re hearing across the Tasman is the exasperated smacking of foreheads in Canberra.
[Trade Minister Don Farrell] said Dr Rudd had been unable to achieve a breakthrough in a Saturday meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, though it remained unclear whether Australian exporters would be hit when details of the tariffs plan were unveiled on Thursday (AEDT).
“They’re continuing to engage in discussions. Hopefully we get a satisfactory outcome,” he said.
Not with the deposed Sun King bellowing his idiot opinions at the White House, that’s for sure. It was all going so well until Turnbull shoved his oar in.
In a phone call with the Prime Minister last month, Mr Trump pledged to give “great consideration” to Australia’s request for an exemption, acknowledging the US’s trade surplus with Australia.
And then along came Malcolm and his mouth.
Naturally, instead of backing down, Turnbull is doubling down. And attacking anyone who dares criticise his wisdom.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused the ABC of being “pusillanimous” and demanding “self-censorship … for fear of offending” US President Donald Trump in a tetchy and defensive interview following Mr Trump’s criticism of Mr Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull also said he thought Australia’s chance of getting an exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs due to start in a few days were “very, very low”.
Thanks to him.
Others at least know when to keep their gobs shut.
Peter Dutton has declined to weigh in on whether he thought the public stoush between US President Donald Trump and former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull hurt Australia’s chances at being exempted from US steel and aluminium tariffs set to snap into place on Wednesday.
The Opposition Leader said the “most important thing” was for Anthony Albanese to talk to Mr Trump and for other cabinet members to engage with their US counterparts to exempt Australia from the tariffs.
Yeah, right. Because Trump’s not going to forget what they said about him, either.
What fools like Turnbull, Rudd and Albanese can’t get their heads around is that getting into a pissing contest with The Donald is always a losing game. Turnbull’s (and Rudd’s, Albanese’s, etc) are all assholes. “The problem,” as Mark Steyn once wrote of John McCain, “is you can’t out-asshole Donald Trump.” Turnbull “is in the Superbowl of assholery and hopelessly outmatched”.
And we, the home-side spectators, are the losers.
