Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil falls victim to Trump derangement syndrome

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is the latest victim of Trump derangement syndrome – a hatred of Trump so intense it impairs people’s judgment. So, what is it that drives people so insane?

What is it about the Trump name that sends people insane?

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is the latest victim of Trump derangement syndrome – “a hatred of President Trump so intense that it impairs people’s judgment”, according to the affliction’s Wikipedia page, which seems to exist because it is that much of a problem.

O’Neil, however, must have contracted a variant, because she put her foot in it last week by instead blasting Donald Trump Jr as a “sore loser” and a “big baby who isn’t very popular”.

“His dad lost an election fair and square – but he says it was stolen,” she tweeted.

“Now he’s trying to blame the Australian government for his poor ticket sales and cancelled tour.”

Donald Trump Jr. cancelled his tour down under. Picture: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty

Mr Trump on the presidential campaign this week. Picture: Getty / AFP

O’Neil quickly deleted the tweets – having missed a golden opportunity to go viral on the first day of Threads – before Immigration Minister Andrew Giles also took a dig at the “lack of enthusiasm for ticket sales” for the former president’s son’s Australian speaking tour.

It is not hard to understand why most Labor MPs despise Donald Trump.

Many Liberal MPs share their views. But given he has a real chance of returning to the White House, it is incumbent upon them to do the diplomatic thing and keep those thoughts to themselves.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O Neil. Picture: John Grainger

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Picture: Supplied

O’Neil’s unprovoked attack was particularly surprising, bearing in mind her commitment to lifting the standard of debate. Perhaps she was taking her lead from Anthony Albanese, who has not quite lived up to that lofty promise he made at last year’s election.

The PM, you may recall, was also a vocal critic of Trump in the wake of the US Capitol riot.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison with then US president Donald Trump at the White House in September 2019. Picture: Mick Tsikas

That intervention was justified in the circumstances, matching the rebuke issued by other US allies.

Nevertheless, it stands out in hindsight, especially as Albanese has flatly refused to publicly acknowledge Indian PM Narendra Modi’s spotty human rights record.

It makes sense that he wants to stay in the good books of the leader of one of our most important partners – which is what makes Labor’s digs at Trump so foolish.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rock star welcome in Australia in May and at a joint session of the US Congress at the Capitol in June (above). Picture: Drew Angerer / AFP

Here in the US, whenever questions are raised about barriers to AUKUS, senior figures from all three countries say the personal commitment of their leaders will break them down. Australia therefore cannot risk giving Trump a reason to pull back from the pact.

Of course, O’Neil can’t take her tweets back now. Maybe she could win Trump over by criticising Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s drug use, tax evasion and gun crimes? Maybe not.

Originally published as Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil falls victim to Trump derangement syndrome