Donald Trump: Australians join in protests

Thousands of Australians have marched against Donald Trump while Malcolm Turnbull has tweeted his congratulations to the new President.

Thousands rally against Donald Trump in Sydney on Saturday.

Thousands of people have marched in Sydney against the inauguration on Saturday Australian time of Donald Trump, while his local supporters have funded a skywriting effort for him and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tweeted his congratulations to the new US President.

“Congratulations President Trump,” Mr Turnbull tweeted to Mr Trump’s new @POTUS government Twitter account.

“We are steadfast allies & trusted friends with a great future ahead of us. We wish you every success,’’ the Prime Minister tweeted to a leader famous for his fondess for Twitter.

Mr Trump in his inaugural speech did not refer to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership supported by Australia, but the pact championed by former President Barack Obama between the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and eight other Pacific countries is currently expected to be scrapped soon.

Labor opposition trade spokesman Jason Clare said the Australian government needed to consider alternative trade agreements.

“Throughout the week Malcolm Turnbull has said that he can convince Donald Trump to change his mind, well now it’s clear that he can’t,” Mr Clare said.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the government remained committed to the TPP and its position on it had not changed.

Australia was represented at the inauguration in Washington by its ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey.

In Australian protests, Organisers of the Sydney Women’s March estimated 8000-10,000 people attended the Saturday event, which started at Hyde Park and ended in Martin Place.

The rally was reportedly one of hundreds across the world, which have sprung up out of a grassroots campaign started in Washington against what many believe is Mr Trump’s impact on racist and misogynist sentiment.

A Sydney protester. Picture: Jenny Evans

A Melbourne march attracted about 7000, and the Canberra event about 1000, according to organisers.

Sydney protester Charlotte Wilde said she shed tears watching Mr Trump sworn in, and father of two Marek Rucinski described President Trump’s speech as “very divisive” and lacking substance.

“Normally these speeches are used to rally and unite people,” he said. “It was, again, more bluster.”

March placards included “feminism is my trump card” and “fight like a girl”.

“This is the beginning of something, not the end,” organiser Mindy Freiband told the crowd.

“We have a lot of work to do over the next four years.”

The US President’s surname written in the sky over Sydney.

A group of Trump supporters paid thousands of dollars to have the President’s name written in the Sydney sky above the protesters.

A sky writer plastered “TRUMP” in bold capital letters. “Epic sky trolling in Sydney #Trump #womensmarchsydney,” one Twitter user posted accompanied by a photo.

Skywriting Australia has confirmed it was approached by a group of Trump supporters to put the President’s name in the Sydney sky to coincide with the march.

Putting his name in the air would not have been cheap, with typical sky writing missions costing around $4000.

A spokesman for the company said it was approached by a group of around 10 Trump supporters who wanted to remain anonymous because they “didn’t want the hassle”.

The President’s name was written in Sydney’s sky twice with the first instance drifting out over the water, he said.

AAP