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Malcolm Turnbull says Donald Trump is not committed to democracy

Malcolm Turnbull has labelled Donald Trump a “tyrant” and raised questions about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

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Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has labelled Donald Trump a “tyrant” and questioned whether Israel’s war in Gaza is actually what Hamas wants during his latest appearance on the television program Q&A.

Mr Turnbull was on a panel on Monday night with writer Rebecca Huntley, British historian Peter Frankopan, Ukrainian born Sydney academic Olga Oleinikova, and Sydney Uni chair of social work Jioji Ravolu as they discussed whether democracy was in a fight for its very survival.

The outspoken former prime minister said Mr Trump — whom he has repeatedly criticised over the years — was no longer committed to democracy “as we know it”.

“Donald Trump does not believe the law applies to him,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and refused to accept it and ... encouraged a mob to try to overthrow the constitutional process in the Congress, tried to overthrow his own constitution.”

Malcolm Turnbull has again hit out at Donald Trump, calling him a tyrant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Malcolm Turnbull has again hit out at Donald Trump, calling him a tyrant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

When it was pointed out that Mr Trump was outpolling current President Joe Biden, Mr Turnbull replied: “Tyrants are often popular.”

“The key to liberal democracy is that it empowers the majority, but it also — through the rule of law — constrains the majority,” he said.

He added that democracy meant there was a rule of law that protected and applied to all citizens.

While Australia has become more dependent on the US, Mr Turnbull said that link would be much less reliable under Mr Trump’s presidency should he be re-elected.

He said the challenge for the Australian government was to not backdown.

“Trump is a bully, he encourages people to suck up to him,” he said.

“Notoriously I didn’t do that ... but I think it was a good thing.

“We have to get used to the fact that the US may not be aligned on the same values in quite the same way as it was 20, 30, 40 years ago. That’s a reality we’ve got to live with.”

It was noted former prime minister Scott Morrison said in an interview that Mr Trump posed no threat to Australia’s national security.

But Mr Turnbull said Mr Trump could force Ukraine to surrender to Russia and noted he had already threatened to pull out of NATO.

“Trump rattled every single cage, every single alliance. He is attracted to dictators and tyrants,” he said.

“I’m afraid to say, not for the first time, I disagree with Scott Morrison.”

Presidential hopeful Donald Trump is outpolling sitting President Joe Biden. Picture: Mandel Ngan / AFP
Presidential hopeful Donald Trump is outpolling sitting President Joe Biden. Picture: Mandel Ngan / AFP

On Israel’s war in Gaza, Mr Turnbull said the Hamas attack on October 7 “changed” Israel and “shocked” the world.

“It was designed as a provocation,” he said.

Asked whether Israel should not have taken the provocation and if it had been an overreach, Mr Turnbull became somewhat critical of Israel.

“The question you have to ask is firstly, is the price in Palestinian civilian lives now so high that the claim that the Israeli Defence Forces make that they’re doing everything they can to protect human life no longer credible,” he said.

“Their question has to be are they losing so much public support in the world today that they are in effect achieving what Hamas wanted to achieve.”

Asked if that was his view, he replied: “I fear that Hamas would see what has happened as being entirely in accordance with their provocation.”

Read related topics:Donald TrumpIsrael
Angie Raphael

Angie Raphael has almost two decades of experience as a journalist. Angie began her career in regional and community newspapers, then worked at the Australian Associated Press for 10 years before joining NCA NewsWire in Perth. Angie has specialised in court reporting, politics and entertainment, as well as covering bushfires, shark attacks and other disasters. Fun fact: Angie has never lost a chocolate eating challenge.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/malcolm-turnbull-says-donald-trump-is-not-committed-to-democracy/news-story/4ec5fae06cfaedbdbb890d1f54eb2cee