Penny Wong’s VIP seat as Trump becomes President; Albanese, Rudd congratulate Trump
Foreign Minister Penny Wong had a front-row seat as Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Anthony Albanese has spruiked a “perfect relationship” with the United States as Australian politicians joined world leaders in congratulating Donald Trump as he returned to the White House on Tuesday.
The Australian Prime Minister started off by congratulating Mr Trump as he was sworn in as the 47th US president on January 20.
“The United States is a great friend of Australia’s. Our Alliance has never been stronger. I look forward to working with you on the opportunities and challenges ahead,” Mr Albanese wrote on X.
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Despite promises to hike tariffs on foreign imports and cutbacks in global defence commitments, Mr Albanese then brushed off concerns about his government’s position to deal with the new US administration.
“I made the point that the United States has enjoyed a trade surplus with Australia since the Truman presidency,” he told the ABC’s 7.30.
“It has been there for a long time. The United States is a major investor here in Australia and the relationship between our two economies is so important.
“I’m very confident that we will work these issues through because they’re in the interests of both Australia and the United States.
“He said that we will have a ‘perfect relationship’.”
Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd also congratulated Mr Trump, saying he was “looking forward to working closely” with the Trump administration.
Before his election win, Mr Trump threatened that Mr Rudd would not remain as ambassador for long after being made aware of insulting tweets by Mr Rudd.
However, Mr Rudd put that aside in a congratulatory message posted on X: “A pleasure to accompany Australia’s Foreign Minister on this historic day, as President Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States”.
“Australia remains a steadfast ally to the United States, and I look forward to working closely with his Administration in the months ahead.”
A pleasure to accompany Australia’s Foreign Minister on this historic day, as President Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
— Kevin Rudd AC (@AmboRudd) January 20, 2025
Australia remains a steadfast ally to the United States, and I look forward to working closely with his Administration in the… https://t.co/1LacT2sGu6
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong represented the country at Mr Trump inauguration.
“The United States is Australia’s closest ally. I look forward to working together with the new Administration to deliver on our shared interests,” she said.
Ms Wong had a close seat to all the action, sitting about three rows from the front while Mr Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Donald Trump’s inauguration speech on 2GB, telling host Ben Fordham that he is particularly excited about Australia’s role in the forthcoming Mars mission.
“His speech today was very purposeful and intentional, very consistent with what he said he’d do, it’s a pretty common sense agenda and I think an exciting one,” he said.
Mr Morrison, who is the chairman of Space Centre Australia, said he and Mr Trump spoke about a potential Mars mission in 2019.
“It’s a big, bold ambition but certainly [Elon] Musk believes he can do it, and people said the same thing about the moon all those years ago, and the advances that you get from those types of missions in technology and all of these things has so many other benefits.”
Meanwhile, around the world, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky described today as a day of change, indicating “hope for the resolution of many problems”.
“President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority,” he said.
I congratulate President Trump and the American people on the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Today is a day of change and also a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир ЗеленÑький (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2025
President Trump is always decisive, and the…
Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Mr Trump on his return to office, specifically his “desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, which were interrupted through no fault of our own by the outgoing administration”.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed that the special relationship between the UK and the US will “continue to flourish for years to come” as the leaders “deliver for people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
“For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership … Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity,” he said.
“With President Trump’s longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue.”
The king sent a personal message of congratulations to Mr Trump, reflecting on the enduring special relationship between the UK and U.S., according to Buckingham Palace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mr Trump in a video message, saying the “best days of our alliance are yet to come”.
Praising Trump’s pro-Israel policies during his first term, Mr Netanyahu said: “I believe that working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights.”
“I’m confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran’s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region,” Mr Netanyahu added, in reference to Tehran’s allied militant groups including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He also thanked Mr Trump for helping to secure a hostage release deal as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that came into force on Sunday.
“I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”
A Hamas official said the terror group was “happy” with the departure of Joe Biden from the US presidency.
“We are happy with the departure of Biden, who has the blood of Palestinians on his hand,” Sami Abu Zuhri said.
“We hope for the end of this dark era that harmed the US before anyone and that Trump can build his policies on balanced foundations that can cut the road against Netanyahu’s evils that want to drown the region and the world.”
Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said Mr Trump would “bring peace to the Middle East”.
“We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region,” Sharaa’s administration said in a statement.
“We look forward to improving the relations between our two countries based on dialogue and understanding.”
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he wanted to build a “relationship of trust”.
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Originally published as Penny Wong’s VIP seat as Trump becomes President; Albanese, Rudd congratulate Trump