Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have reignited their long-standing feud with a series of public statements. The discord dates back to a contentious phone call in 2017 over the U.S.-Australia refugee swap deal, which Trump deemed a "bad deal." Recent comments have further fueled tensions between the two leaders, with Trump labeling Turnbull a "weak and ineffective leader."
In a social media post, Trump criticized Turnbull's leadership style and understanding of international relations, particularly concerning China.
"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 agreed with me!!!"
This statement follows Turnbull's remarks in an interview with Bloomberg, where he described Trump's leadership as chaotic and potentially advantageous for China's President Xi Jinping.
"President Xi will aim to be the exact opposite of Trump: 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 consistent."
Turnbull served as Australia's Prime Minister from 2015 until 2018, when an internal Liberal Party spill led to his replacement by Scott Morrison. Since then, Turnbull has been vocal about his views on Trump's presidency, suggesting that Trump's unpredictable behavior could undermine the United States on the global stage.
In response to Turnbull's criticism, Trump dismissed his comments as "ridiculous," asserting that Turnbull lacked the insight to understand China's geopolitical strategies. The former Prime Minister countered by stating that Trump's reaction validated his observations.
"His [Trump’s] post proves that my comments hit the mark," stated Turnbull.
The acrimonious relationship between Trump and Turnbull has been marked by disagreements over various issues, including the controversial refugee swap deal. During their notorious 2017 phone call, Trump expressed frustration over the agreement brokered by former President Barack Obama.
"I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous," Trump reportedly told Turnbull.
Despite their differences, both leaders have highlighted the importance of their respective nations' alliances. However, their exchanges suggest contrasting visions for leadership on the world stage.