PM deluding himself if he thinks he holds Trump cards

Anthony Albanese is delusional to think he is better placed than Peter Dutton to forge a productive relationship with Donald Trump (“Albanese’s bid to claim Trump card, China ace”, 9/1).

Opposites often do not attract, whereas Dutton has street cred on issues that resonate with Trump. Such as keeping our borders secure and defeating the woke Goliath in the voice referendum.

As the first Australian politician to meet Benjamin Netanyahu since October 7, Dutton, like Trump, has shown unequivocal support for Israel.

As long as president-elect Trump wants to “drill, baby, drill” and Dutton wants to “go nuclear”, the mission-critical issues of energy, reliability, affordability and sovereignty are getting the respect they deserve.

The weather-dependent energy rollout by “handsome boy” Albanese of infrastructure made in China, using Aussie coal, is absurd. Furthermore, you can bet if Dutton were in The Lodge, Kevin Rudd would not be in DC.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

Anthony Albanese is deluding himself if he believes that he is better placed than Peter Dutton to form a relationship with Donald Trump.

Over a range of Trump’s viewpoints, including the necessity for a balanced, pragmatic energy mix to attain international competitiveness and grow the economy, full support towards Israel, the necessity for a strong, national defence and a disdain for the Paris climate accord, as well as all matters woke, Albanese is diametrically opposed.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Despite photo shoots showing him standing around in sarongs with Pacific leaders, Anthony Albanese’s action track record will stand on its own with “get things done rather than talk about it” Donald Trump.

Albanese refused to protest China threatening our ships and flight crews, is hopeless on preventing and managing illegal immigrants, puts Palestinian protesters who support terrorists on a pedestal and allows Jewish Australians to be persecuted and our largest synagogue to be destroyed without any response, junked our attack helicopters rather than give them to Ukraine, is closing down reliable energy and fuel in favour of intermittent Chinese-made renewables, has almost no ships that can put to sea, and runs a high-taxing, high-bureaucracy, high business restrictions, high union influence government heading for bankruptcy. Then there is the angry, Trump-hating Kevin Rudd as ambassador.

You can bet Trump’s Aussie bestie, Scott Morrison, will have Trump very clear on who is who in Australia.

Ian Brake, Mackay, Qld

Does Albo not see the complete incongruity of him and Kevin Rudd sitting down with Donald Trump and Elon Musk to discuss exempting Australia from Trump’s tariffs? After Donald realises who Albo and Kevin are, the tariff rate will go from 25 per cent to 100 per cent.

Alexander Haege, Tamarama, NSW

So, Albanese sees himself as some sort of statesman with influence in our greater regions?

The near neighbours who have watched his naive and weak response to all issues international and domestic would weigh up the emerging character and purpose of Peter Dutton against our decidedly opportunistic Prime Minister, a bloke who will pontificate on Middle East politics but doesn’t have the steel to visit Israel, sending his token Jewish man on an empty and useless late fix of a diplomatic fiasco.

Ross Dyson, Violet Town, Vic

It is with some justification that the Prime Minister claims to be in a better position than Peter Dutton to “forge a productive relationship with Donald Trump”.

The presence of Kevin Rudd as Labor’s ambassador to the Trump administration gives Albanese a headstart over Dutton.

Rudd, with his famous tact and diplomacy, will have no trouble explaining to Trump the thinking behind Australia’s repudiation of Israel in favour of Hamas.

Frank Pulsford, Aspley, Qld

Can you imagine president Donald Trump phoning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ask for assistance in smoothing the waters with Asian leaders? Me neither.

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW