Unpredictability is a feature, not a bug, of a Trump presidency. That’s not news, but it underlines why dealing with the reality of a Trump White House, as distinct from rhetoric and promises, now requires diplomatic discipline and agility from Australia. Hunkering down is not an option. Nor is indulgence driven by domestic politics.

Let’s start with the positives. Australia is a top-tier US ally and came through Trump 1.0 with an enhanced reputation in Washington. We have lent in on the next phase of the security alliance through the AUKUS agreement, which includes a $3 billion Australian investment in the US defence industrial base.