Biting your tongue on Trump will have no impact on tariffs

Amid the rolling turmoil of US President Donald Trump’s grave new world, his ability to make some of us self-censor is an astounding and unexpected byproduct.

The former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, didn’t mince his words when he accused the ABC of being cowardly after two of the national broadcaster’s most prominent hosts questioned whether he was wise to antagonise Trump when Australia is seeking exemptions to US tariffs, scheduled to start this week.

Malcolm Turnbull clashed with broadcaster Sally Sara (centre) over Donald Trump.Credit: AP and Sydney Morning Herald

Turnbull was questioned by ABC Radio National host Sally Sara on the wisdom of attacking Trump as a “bully” while trade talks were ongoing. Turnbull said the line of questioning was not dissimilar to what he had fielded on Monday night’s 7.30. “Has the ABC become so pusillanimous that you’re seriously suggesting that we shouldn’t be free to speak the truth in Australia for fear of Donald Trump?” Turnbull said. “Is that the depths you’ve sunk to? I believe in Australia, and I believe in standing up for Australia, and I think – I’m sorry – apparently you don’t.”

On Nine’s Today show, host Sarah Abo wondered on Tuesday if it wasn’t time for Turnbull to fall quiet. “Here we were worried about Trump. When it turns out Malcolm Turnbull might be the one. The death knell here,” she said. “I mean, honestly, former prime ministers just need to shut up. I mean, Julia Gillard comes to mind. Even Tony Abbott’s been pretty quiet. They need to (shut up).”

The Herald disagrees. Now is not a time for politicians or former leaders to sit back and say nothing as Trump up-ends global order and inflicts serious damage on the economy. Australians must feel free to speak honestly and frankly to one another and the rest of the world about Trump.

Of course, Turnbull and Trump have a history of ups and downs. The year after the pair clashed over the resettlement of refugees from Australia’s offshore detention centres, Turnbull succeeded in convincing Trump to adopt a more generous line on tariffs imposed on Australian goods in 2018.

But Turnbull went on Bloomberg TV to argue that the United States’ plans to slap tariffs on goods coming from its allies played into China’s hands.

Miffed, Trump returned fire on his social media platform Truth Social: “Malcolm Turnbull, the former prime minister of Australia who was always leading that wonderful country from ‘behind’, never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so. I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader and, obviously, Australian’s [sic] agreed with me.”

Trump’s tactics mean our government faces a moment of truth. The ABC’s questions are not really the problem. The issue is our political leaders ducking for cover on Trump, and that’s where Turnbull’s criticisms are dead right. As he noted: “The reality is, if you suck up to bullies, whether it’s global affairs or in the playground, you just get more bullying.”

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