The US election is arguably the most-watched foreign vote in Australia. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that our most powerful people have had lots to say about this year’s nail-biter.
Those who will have to conduct diplomacy with whoever wins have been careful to hedge their bets, while others, like mining magnate Gina Rinehart, have been shameless about picking sides.
Anthony Albanese
Unsurprisingly, the prime minister has stressed that America’s choice is America’s alone. In an interview with ABC’s AM radio show on Monday, Albanese said his ministers “engage with people across the US political system” and that he has worked with President Joe Biden “constructively in the interests of both of our nations”.
“We’re seeing democracy taking place there in the United States,” Albanese said.
“The democratic values that we share [are] the basis of our fundamental relationship. And it’s a relationship between nations, not a relationship just between people.”
Peter Dutton
The opposition leader also had his statesman hat on when he was last asked about the election. In June, Dutton told Sky News Australia he’s worked “very closely with the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations”.
“I’ve got an excellent working relationship with key people across both the Republicans and the Democrats. Whoever the Americans decide to choose as their president will be a great friend to Australia, and the relationship will continue to grow and strengthen as it must,” he said.
“We need to make sure that allies stand shoulder-to-shoulder, and that’s what we’ll continue to do with the incoming president in the United States. That’s been long standing, we can work with somebody from either side of the aisle.”
Richard Marles
The defence minister has said he’s certain Australia’s alliance with the US, and the AUKUS submarine pact, will be safe no matter who wins.
“What I’m really confident about is that no matter whether we’re talking about a President Harris or a President Trump, the alliance is in really good shape,” he told Nine’s Today Show on Tuesday morning.
“And the equities in that alliance, particularly our future submarines, for example, making sure we’ve got very close defence relationships.”
Kevin Rudd
Before he became Australia’s ambassador to the US, Rudd was unafraid to speak his mind on US politics, labelling Trump “nuts” in 2017 and the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West” in 2022. Since taking his current job, Rudd has become much more diplomatic.
“The really good thing about the United States is brand Australia is in good working order, and therefore we are in a good position to work with whichever party is elected,” Rudd told Sky News Australia in July.
“If the American people vote for Donald Trump and for JD Vance, the Australian government, led by Anthony Albanese, will be in there, working hard, positively, constructively, with [the] incoming Republic[an] administration [from] day one as it has been in the past.”
Joe Hockey
Rudd’s predecessor as ambassador in Washington has said polls may be underestimating Trump’s appeal among voters, arguing the ex-president’s policy platform is more widely known than Harris’, according to Sky News Australia.
In an interview with radio station 2GB, Hockey said the winner will be the candidate who has the better plan on how to “fix the economy”.
“At the end of the day, anyone who tries to pick a winner here is a fool. It really does come down to a whole lot of other factors — the most important of all is what people think about the economy and who is best to fix the economy,” he said.
Gina Rinehart
Australia’s richest person isn’t shy about her admiration of Trump. Speaking to The Australian this week, Rinehart lauded him as “incredibly patriotic and courageous” and said she was “very much … hoping for a Trump victory”.
“He understands if you include policies that welcome investment, like less government tape, less tax, you get investment back, you bring growth, you raise living standards,” Rinehart said.
“The world would be better off with more leaders like Trump, who understand such truths.”
