Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said leaders should “not succumb to bullies” after being attacked by Donald Trump on a late-night social media post.
Working on the truthful social platform just before midnight on Sunday night in Washington, D.C., the US president said Turnbull had led Australia from the “back” and didn’t understand China.
“Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull didn’t understand, nor did he have the ability to do so, what was happening in China, which always led its fantastic country from the ‘behind’. I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader, and obviously the Australian (sic) agreed with me!!!”
The post appears to address US damages in response to an interview given by Turnbull to Bloomberg, who said Trump’s chaotic leadership style would benefit China.
“President XI aims to be the exact opposite of Trump. If Trump is confused, he is consistent. If Trump is rude and abusive, he will be respectful. If Trump is unstable, he will be consistent.”
Turnbull said the world was watching a “undiluted” version of Trump in his second term and that his whimsical actions would be seen as advantageous to Chinese president Xi Jinping in international relations.
Many “feel like China as a more attractive partner” because of countries that have been forced to choose between “China on the one hand and Trump on the other.”
When contacted by the Guardian, Turnbull said his commentary on Bloomberg “speaks of its own.”
“His (Trump’s) post proves that my comments hit Mark,” the former prime minister said.
Speaking to Sarah Ferguson on ABC’s 7.30 on Monday night, Turnbull described Trump’s comments as “rude and abusive,” doubled the comments that the US president was driving in a country close to China.
“If Trump abuses them, tries to bully them, and places crippling tariffs on them, they will naturally approach China,” the former prime minister said.
But Turnbull also argued that being “sicopantic” against Trump would not achieve the desired outcomes for leaders around the world.
“The reality is, if you get sucked into a bully, whether it’s a global issue or a playground, you just get bullied.
“So we’re just sneaking up the White House and going to be a line of Shikofan congas who are honouring this guy and saying he’s a genius? It’s ridiculous!”
Turnbull also said he believes Trump regrets offering Turnbull’s government exemption from steel tariffs in 2018.
Turnbull said he believes America will not allow exemptions this time.
“And as you know, there were attempts to set up Albanese to fail something that is unlikely to succeed,” he said.
Trump and Turnbull have history. The pair shared a fierce call in 2017 over a swap deal for US-Australian refugees negotiated by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.
Trump said it was a bad deal and accepting it would make him look like “dope.”
“I had it. I’ve been making these calls all day, and this is the most uncomfortable phone of the day. Putin was a fun call. This is ridiculous,” Trump said shortly before the phone ended.
However, at other times the pair looked friendly. Turnbull said that even during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, he would previously mention Kelly Packer whenever Trump meets.
Turnbull was prime minister from 2015 to 2018. He was rather not elected, but not taken office in the Liberal Party’s outflow when he lost leadership to Scott Morrison.
