Albanese, Dutton congratulate Donald Trump after Republican wins 2024 US Election

PM Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have led the world’s reaction to Donald Trump’s US election victory, revealing how they want the two countries to work together in the next four years.

Anthony Albanese has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election and pledged to work with the Republican leader, but it will be a tricky time for the Prime Minister given his past criticisms of the resurgent US president.

Disparaging comments made by Mr Albanese and his Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, will pose a diplomatic challenge for Australia as it seeks to shore up its interests with the incoming Trump administration.

Earlier this week resurfaced 2017 footage of Mr Albanese saying Mr Trump “scares the s**t out of me” prompted renewed concerns about Labor’s ability to maintain the US alliance in the event of a Republican victory.

“I think it’s of some concern the leader of the free world thinks that you can conduct politics through 140 characters on Twitter overnight,” Mr Albanese, who was Labor’s opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman at the time, said.

President Donald Trump became the 47th American president. Picture: AP

Disparaging comments made by Mr Albanese to Trump’s administration may pose a diplomatic challenge. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

That same year, Mr Rudd called Mr Trump “nuts” and then in 2020, described him as the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West” after he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Albanese had already confirmed Mr Rudd would remain Australia’s representative in Washington DC regardless of the US election outcome.

In a pre-emptive effort to smooth over relations, private meetings were set up with key Republicans to prepare for a potential second Trump administration.

Mr Rudd has been seeking to strengthen ties with Republicans in congress, focusing in particular on shoring up the AUKUS pact.

While Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Minister Richard Marles both met with Mr Trump’s former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, during recent visits to the US.

While Ms Wong also met with former House speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is considered in contention to become Mr Trump’s chief of staff.

On Wednesday, Mr Albanese said his government would “work closely” with the new Trump Administration to “realise the benefits of our strong economic partnership”.

“I look forward to talking with president Trump and working with him in the best interests of both our nations,” he said.

Mr Albanese said the US had “long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific”.

“Australia will strive to strengthen the co-operation between our two nations in the region,” he said.

“Australia and America are old allies and we are true friends. Our nations are bound by a history of shared sacrifice, a commitment to common values and – above all – enduring respect and affection between our peoples.”

Peter Dutton says the US has been an ‘overwhelming force for good in the world’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Dutton also congratulated the US president-elect and said the US had been an “overwhelming force for good in the world”.

“When our close ally is strong and at its best, the world is at its best,” Mr Dutton said.

Meanwhile Greens leader Adam Bandt described Mr Trump’s presidential victory as a “bad day” for Australia, the US, and the world.

He said Mr Trump would be a “threat to democracy and to progress” and called on Mr Albanese to “urgently cancel AUKUS and reconsider Australia’s relationship with the United States”.

“Australia should be able to make its own decisions including about defence and foreign policy, and not be dictated to by Trump,” he said

Greens leader Adam Bandt has described Donald Trump’s presidential victory as a “bad day” for Australia, the US, and the world.

Mr Bandt said Mr Trump would be a “threat to democracy and to progress” and called on PM Anthony Albanese to “urgently cancel AUKUS and reconsider Australia’s relationship with the United States” in response.

“As President, Trump will embolden hate,” he said. “We’ve seen far-right extremism rise around the globe and time and time again it has been fortified by Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric.”

Originally published as Albanese, Dutton congratulate Donald Trump after Republican wins 2024 US Election