Analysis: Malcolm Turnbull decides to rewrite history on Donald Trump relationship
The former Prime Minister claims he stood up to Donald Trump’s “bullying” and refused to “suck up” to the President. The public records tell a different tale, writes James Willis.
Opinion
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Malcolm Turnbull has a remarkable ability to reinvent history for his own validation and relevance.
He’s also developed an awful habit of stirring the pot during a political firestorm. A new example just this week, with confirmation Australia will be whacked with crippling steel and aluminium tariffs from the new Trump administration.
The former Prime Minister, in no fewer than four separate media appearances, described US President Donald Trump as a “bully”... who engaged in “chaotic”, “rude” and “abusive” behaviour.
“If you give into bullies… Trump is a bully. He seeks to achieve dominance. He gets dominance by intimidating people. That’s his method. So what we need to do, every nation needs to do is stand up to him” Mr Turnbull told the ABC.
Mr Turnbull separately claims to have succeeded against Mr Trump “in the face of fury”, when he convinced America to provide an exemption from similar tariffs when they were last proposed in 2018.
“At the time, I was told not to stand up to him (Trump). I was told to flatter him, suck up to him, offer him things. I didn’t do that, and I achieved very good outcomes for Australia” Mr Turnbull wrote in an editorial for another news organisation.
But public records don’t seem to support these claims. In fact, during his time as Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull heaped praise and admiration on Donald Trump.
When the President was first elected in 2016, Mr Turnbull described him as a “practical, experienced businessman, who has been successful” and will “do good things for America”.
The same Malcolm would go on to offer up the following lines in support of Mr Trump:
•“We are all learning a lot from President Trump and he is a remarkable politician.”
•“President Trump is a deal-maker. He is a businessman who has brought a lifetime’s experience of doing deals, of getting to know people, of being able to persuade them to come to an agreement.”
•“He is a very warm leader, a very warm person, with a very personal approach. That’s been his business style, it’s something I understand very well.”
•“We got on so well. We have a lot of friends in common and we have similar backgrounds in business.”
If Malcolm Turnbull was somehow whacking Donald Trump with political punches and refusing to suck up to the US President, it didn’t happen in the public eye.
Even when prompted in an interview about North Korea, Malcolm refused to bite. Channel 9’s Tracy Grimshaw asked “the problem is we have two unpredictable, volatile leaders in North Korea and in the US who both have their hands on the nuclear button.” Mr Turnbull replied: “I think you’re being very unfair to President Trump.”
In an exhaustive list of transcripts, interviews and speeches during Malcolm’s time as Australia’s 29th Prime Minister, there is barely a syllable of criticism directed at Donald Trump.
The pair held press conferences where they spoke about their mutual admiration. “Lucy and I want to thank you… for your very warm welcome… and friendship” Mr Turnbull said at one.
“We’ve been allies for 99 years… and never a bad time” Mr Trump remarked at another.
Indeed, Mr Turnbull managed to secure some major victories for Australia during his time in office. Away from the tariff exemption, he was also able to convince Mr Trump to honour a refugee swap deal that had been agreed to by Barack Obama.
A leaked transcript of the January 2017 phone call showed Mr Trump warning the “horrible” deal was an “embarrassment” for the United States, but the President would have “no choice but to honour my predecessor’s deal.”
During parts of the phone call – Mr Turnbull pointed out: “look, you and I have a lot of mutual friends.”
“You can count on me. I will be there again and again” Mr Turnbull told the President.
These glowing remarks should be kept top of mind as Malcolm Turnbull’s relentless attacks on Donald Trump continue, as they no doubt will.
It’s very easy to talk tough when you don’t have skin in the game.
And these days there is only one thing you can really “count” on from Malcolm Turnbull.
When Australia is in strife, he will be there to lay the boot in. Guaranteed.
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