Malcolm Turnbull’s warning for the world as Donald Trump solidifies power in the US

Malcolm Turnbull has never hesitated to rip Donald Trump on the world stage, but his latest has warning cut a much bleaker tone.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has thrown the gloves down again, boldly warning the world that Donald Trump risks sending America into a new era of authoritarianism.

Speaking on ABC News on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Turnbull cautioned Australia and its allies to prepare for a more volatile international order, urging democratic nations to become less dependent on an increasingly unpredictable United States under the billionaire commander-in-chief.

Mr Turnbull expanded on a recent essay he published in Foreign Affairs, arguing that “those countries that share the values for which the United States once stood, but currently does not, should band together to preserve what worked best in the order Trump is intent on burying.”

Following Mr Trump’s inauguration, Mr Turnbull has spent much of 2025 calling for strategic independence among Western democracies and a renewed commitment to multilateralism, free trade and stability.

He said Mr Trump’s “erratic” leadership has undermined trust in America’s role as a global stabiliser.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned Australia and its allies to prepare for a more volatile international order.

He also touched on the escalating situation in Los Angeles, where federal authorities have deployed marines in response to anti-ICE protests and arrests of undocumented immigrants.

“You can understand Governor Newsom feeling that Trump is trying to provoke a greater crisis there,” Mr Turnbull said. “These are dangerous times in America … There are many people in America now – serious people – who are concerned that America is slipping into a realm of authoritarianism … almost of tyranny. And that should be very concerning for us.”

On the flip side, Mr Trump feels emboldened by his election win, which he views as a “mandate” to enact policies he believes will strengthen the US from within. Everything from cutting foreign aid to damaging relationships with long-held partners is on the table for the Republican, who Mr Turnbull believes will flip-flop on just about any deal when he sees fit.

“We should honour [commitments] on trade and in particular should be working to expand our free trade relations with other countries that do share our values of free trade, which Mr Trump does not,” Mr Turnbull continued.

He praised renewed efforts to revive the Australia–European Community free trade agreement and Emmanuel Macron’s push to associate France with the CPTPP. “In other words, expanding relationships – and a similar approach should be done in defence.”

On the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Mr Turnbull identified Taiwan as the most likely flashpoint. China has made no secret of its ambitions to usurp the tiny island nation sitting off its shores, which global powers, including Australia, have committed to defend.

Mr Turnbull expanded on a recent essay he published in Foreign Affairs, arguing that ‘those countries that share the values for which the United States once stood, but currently does not, should band together to preserve what worked best in the order Trump is intent on burying.’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Trump feels emboldened by his election win, which he views as a “mandate” to enact policies he believes will strengthen the US from within. But he’s making his country a lot of enemies in the process. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

“It is the most likely flashpoint. I hope it doesn’t ever come to [it]. It has been an uneasy status quo… but defending Taiwan is very difficult,” he said.

“Xi Jinping… if he is seeking to take over Taiwan, he would want to do so without fighting.”

Turnbull then stressed the difficulty the US would face defending Taiwan.

“Taiwan is very close to China… a long way from the United States. This is going to be a very difficult place for the United States to defend in the current environment,” he said.

Mr Turnbull has now urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be wary of negotiating with Trump at the upcoming G7 meeting. As we’ve seen in recent months, global leaders tend to be treated like misbehaving children by the current US President.

“One of the problems with Trump… is you go along and seek to strike a deal with him – how do you know he will abide by it? He does not regard his word as his bond,” Mr Turnbull continued.

Turnbull also dismissed the idea that Australia should sacrifice its Critical Minerals Office access in negotiations. “Hopefully, we’re not going to give them to him,” he said, pointing out that rare earths aren’t rare, but that China currently dominates their processing.

“China has greater leverage,” he said. “If the Americans are prepared to make the investment to process rare earths, that would be a fantastic development… a win-win.”

On defence spending, Mr Turnbull said he supports a strategic increase but cautioned against simply buying more US equipment.

“That very likely is simply going to be making us more dependent… when America is less dependable and less reliable.”

“We should be focusing on the capabilities we need,” he added. “Measure the effort by what we actually get for our money – not by how much we spend.”

Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull’s warning for the world as Donald Trump solidifies power in the US