Our Team

Joe KellyWashington correspondent

Joe Kelly is The Australian’s Washington correspondent, covering news and politics from the US capital. He is an experienced political reporter, having previously been the masthead’s National Affairs Editor and Canberra bureau chief, having joined the parliamentary press gallery in 2010.

@joekellyoz

Joe Kelly

Latest

TRADE WARWorld

FILE - President Donald Trump speaks at a reception celebrating Women's History Month in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

President open to deal, dangles discount

Donald Trump would be willing to negotiate over his April 2 tariffs, with one insider suggesting he may grant a 50 per cent discount to some nations.

Joe Kelly

inside storyWorld

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S. - 31 March, 2025: Wes and Caitlin Robinson with their son, Vincent, 15 months, at home on March 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

‘Our little miracle’: how parents asked Pell to save their boy’s life

Wes and Caitlin Robinson didn’t believe Vincent would survive after receiving an astonishing 52 minutes of CPR. But they credit the late George Pell with interceding to save their baby after he nearly drowned in their hot tub.

Joe Kelly

TARIFFSPolitics

NCA 2025 FEDERAL ELECTION Labor BUS. DAY 4 01/04/2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail In Victoria. Prime Minister in the electorate of Lalor visiting The Werribee Medicare Urgent Care Clinic with Minister Penny Wong and the Member for Lalor, Jo Ryan. The Prime minister speaking with Ron outside the clinic who wanted to show him his retirement car also wearing a t-shirt saying ÃThis is what perfection looks likeÃ Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

‘Australia first’: PM ready for trade row

Anthony Albanese is vowing an Australia-first response if the nation is hit by Donald Trump’s new tariffs this week, as Labor steps up efforts to paint Peter Dutton as a Trump copycat.

Ben Packham and Joe Kelly

trade barrier reportNation

US President Donald Trump speaks as he signs an executive order targeting ticket scalping in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

US trade report suggests Australia may avoid sweeping tariffs

Canberra appears to have got off lightly compared with China and Canada in the annual assessment of foreign trade barriers, but the News Media Bargaining Code and pharmaceuticals are to be ‘monitored’.

Joe Kelly

Trump’s Trade WarNation

Politicians Headshots Ralph Ives, Us Chief Trade Negotiator In The Current Trade Talks With Australia

No need for Trump to hit Australia: US trade expert

The chief US negotiator of America’s free-trade agreement with Australia says there is no compelling reason for Canberra to be targeted in Donald Trump’s planned tariffs.

Joe Kelly

Signal chat fiascoWorld

US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz (L), US Vice President J.D. Vance (rear), and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R, listen to a question from a reporter during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on March 13, 2025. A US journalist was inadvertently included in a group chat in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials discussed upcoming strikes against Yemen's Huthi rebels, the White House confirmed on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Trump watching which way winds blow before deciding if Hegseth has to go

Donald Trump isn’t afraid of firing someone, but he’s digging in behind his Defence Secretary despite the release of texts showing he shared details ahead of a US military strike on Houthi militants.

Joe Kelly

Trump’s Trade WarThe Wall Street Journal

US President Donald Trump announces tariffs on auto imports in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has already imposed tariffs on imports from major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- as well as a 25 percent duty on steel and aluminum imports. The move is set to fuel tensions with trading partners ahead of further promised levies next week. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

US tariffs seem likely but may be ‘lenient’

Canada says Trump betrayed their trade agreement with tariffs covering cars and car parts; the President says no country will be exempt from reciprocal tariffs but they’ll be less than expected.

Joe Kelly

US threat assessmentPolitics

This handout photo made available by the Iranian Army Office on March 12, 2025 shows navy vessels taking part in a joint Iranian-Russian-Chinese military drill in the Gulf of Oman. The navies of Iran, Russia and China are holding military drills off the coast of Iran this week in a bid to boost cooperation, according to Iranian media. (Photo by Iranian Army Office / AFP)

Beijing ‘to escalate Taiwan coercion in 2025’

A new threat assessment warns stronger links between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea pose ‘new challenges’ to America and that Taiwan will face escalating coercion from Beijing in 2025

Joe Kelly

Trump’s Trade WarWorld

President Donald Trump, flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., left, and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, right, speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Pool via AP)

Trump to grant a reprieve from full reciprocal tariffs

Australian hopes for a trade reprieve from the US have been buoyed after Donald Trump said he ‘may give a lot of countries breaks’ from the imposition of full reciprocal tariffs from April 2.

Joe Kelly

WORLD COMMENTARYWorld

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on March 23, 2025 after asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament thereby triggering snap elections on April 28. Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called early elections for April 28, pledging to defeat Donald Trump's drive to annex the United States's huge northern neighbor. Carney, a former central banker, was chosen by Canada's centrist Liberal Party to replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister, but he has never faced the country's broader electorate. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP)

Election looms as a referendum on resisting MAGA

Coalition and ALP strategists will be watching how Donald Trump influences the Canadian election, called for April 28 – shortly before Australians go to the polls.

Joe Kelly

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/joe-kelly/page/11