‘He’s very good’: Trump praises Albanese election win
US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the federal election result, saying he has a good relationship with Anthony Albanese.
Donald Trump has praised Anthony Albanese after Labor’s landslide election win, but did not weigh in on suggestions his presidency contributed to a drop in Coalition support.
Speaking to the media at the White House on Monday, Australian time, the US president said he had a good relationship with Australia’s re-elected leader.
“Albanese, I’m very friendly with. I don’t know anything about the election other than the man that won, he’s very good,” Trump said.
“I can only say that he’s been very, very nice to me, very respectful to me.
“I have no idea who the other person is that ran against him, and you know (Albanese and I) have had a very good relationship.”
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The president didn’t respond to questions about whether his style of politics had caused Australian voters to desert the Coalition when it showed signs of mirroring some of his policies, such as an attack on working from home arrangements for public servants.
Later during the campaign, outgoing opposition leader Peter Dutton sought to distance himself from Trump’s agenda.
But the Coalition was criticised for its policies to cut 41,000 public servants and name NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as spokeswoman for government efficiency, similar to Trump’s policies.
Senator Price also made headlines when she called to “make Australia great again”, referencing Trump’s election slogan.
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Trump’s policies were a key factor in the recent election in Canada, which returned its centre-left government and punished the right-wing opposition, with its leader losing his House of Commons seat.
Albanese and Dutton had campaigned on who would be best placed to deal with the Trump White House, following the president’s imposition of tariffs on US allies.
Dutton suggested during the election that he would be able to get a phone call with the president to secure a better deal.
The prime minister has not spoken with the US president since his phone call in February, which was conducted before the tariffs were imposed.
While Trump hasn’t put out an official statement congratulating Albanese, like other world leaders, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media after the election outcome.
“Australia is a valued US friend and a close partner,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
“We look forward to continuing to promote freedom and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.”
The US has imposed a 10 per cent base tariff on Australian goods imports and 25 per cent on aluminium and steel.
