World Prepares for Trump's Disruption as Australian Diplomat Erases Critical Tweets concerning Trump
When Australian PM Anthony Albanese was queried about Donald Trump in 2017, he admitted that the man "terrifies me to no end." Now, as Prime Minister, Albanese is compelled to collaborate with Trump on the international stage. Much like leaders in other liberal democracies, Australians are apprehensive about the harm Trump may inflict on geopolitical allies. Albanese's ambassador to the U.S. has even erased tweets that criticized Trump to avoid his petty fury.
Kevin Rudd, the ex-left-leaning Australian prime minister now serving as ambassador to the U.S., has expunged tweets that recently stirred controversy in Australia. The most scathing tweet was posted on June 1, 2020, when Trump ordered police to use force against civil rights protesters, enabling him to stroll to a church and pose brandishing a Bible outside.
"The most destructive president in history," Rudd stated in the deleted tweet. "He tarnishes America and democracy. He thrives on fueling, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church, and Bible to justify violence. All backed by Murdoch's FoxNews network in America that fuels this."
Rudd included an image of Trump brandishing the Bible during the incident, which sparked widespread attention in Australia after a local reporter was unexpectedly attacked by police while creating space for Trump's photo-op.
However, Rudd's deleted tweets have attracted some unwanted scrutiny domestically. His website is attempting to clarify that his opinion was not the Australian government's stance.
"In his former capacity as head of an independent US-based think tank, Mr. Rudd was a frequent commentator on American politics," a statement on Rudd's website stated. "Out of respect for the office of the President of the United States, and following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has now removed these past commentaries from his personal website and social media channels."
The statement continues, explaining that this was done "to eliminate the possibility of these comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as Ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian Government. Ambassador Rudd looks forward to collaborating with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance."
And that alliance is what Rudd and the broader Australian government are striving to preserve. Due to the strong ties between the U.S. and Australia, Trump's plans have the potential to disrupt the economic stability that Australia relies on, given that China is its largest trading partner. Trump's plan to impose tariffs on Chinese imports in the U.S. might boost prices for American consumers, but they're also anticipated to have a ripple effect throughout the global economy, costing Australia up to $10 billion annually.
"If you impose tariffs on China, slow down its economy, that means their demand for our exports will decrease, and the incomes of our workers who manufacture these commodities will decrease," Warwick McKibbin, a professor of economics at Australian National University, told Nine News.
The U.S. possesses immense influence globally as the world's largest economy with military bases worldwide. Australia signed a landmark new defense pact in 2021 (under President Joe Biden) called AUKUS that will see the U.S. sell nuclear submarines to Australia. However, as the looming prospect of another Trump presidency becomes evident, world leaders are working hard to avoid unsettling the incoming president.
To clarify, Trump has a strong entourage of powerful allies leading some nations of the world. El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele was one of the first to congratulate Trump for his victory, following Fox News' announcement during the early hours of Wednesday. Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, who spent the past year engaging in a conflict that has killed at least 43,000 people in Gaza, also sent his congratulations early. Hungary's leader Viktor Orban is another ally who is widely viewed as a natural partner in dismantling human rights.
Trump is prepared to wreak havoc on the U.S. with his plan to deport millions, target political adversaries with the military, and pardon pro-MAGA criminals currently incarcerated. However, Trump's impact will extend beyond U.S. borders, and world leaders are bracing themselves for the fallout. There were constraints during Trump's previous tenure. This time around, there are no guardrails in sight.
In the future, navigating international diplomacy may become challenging if Trump returns to power, given his controversial policies and divisive rhetoric. Advancements in tech and technology could play a crucial role in mitigating the potential harm, enabling leaders to communicate effectively despite political differences.
As Prime Minister, Albanese recognizes the importance of technology in maintaining strong relationships with geopolitical allies, even those with whom he personally disagrees, such as Trump.
