Anti-US commentary from senior Labor figures have raised questions about the government’s diplomatic relationship with the Trump White House.
Ties between Canberra and Washington have frayed as the Trump administration launches a review of the AUKUS deal after the Albanese government resisted requests to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
The Albanese government also provoked frustration from the Trump administration after its decision to sanction Israel—a move which the US publicly “condemned”.
However, adding to concerns about the diplomatic ties, has been the comments of government representatives about Australia’s number one ally.
Cabinet Minister Clare O’Neil recently described the US as inferior to Australia, suggesting the US doesn’t take care of its citizens.
“It is so clear to me that Australia is a better country than America, right?” Ms O’Neil said on the ABC’s Q+A in April 2025.
“We have a better healthcare system, we look after each other. We protect each other. We don’t have those horrific problems with gun violence that so plague their society.
“We have an education system, we have equal opportunity. We have a country today led by a Prime Minister who grew up with a single mum with a disability in public housing.
“That could never happen in America, never ever.”
Former presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all came from either middle class or impoverished backgrounds.
Ms O’Neil’s comments have ignited questions over whether the content of her remarks was appropriate, and may have contributed to the deterioration of goodwill between the US and Australia.
Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs Scott Hargreaves warned the comments reflected “disdain” with the government for “our most important ally”.
“Clare O’Neil’s injudicious comments are a reflection of the deep disdain senior members of the federal government have for our most important ally, the United States,” he said.
“The federal government’s antagonistic attitude towards the United States was typified by the Prime Minister’s belligerent response to US requests that Australia do its bit for its own security; even when it is clear our own national security situation requires it.
“This lack of care and regard for our responsibilities as a defence partner has set off alarm bells in Washington.
“If the Prime Minister cannot be bothered investing the time and diplomacy required into maintaining this vital relationship, how could we expect anything less from his ministers?”
Mr Hargreaves said the relationship between Canberra and Washington was at a “low ebb”, as Mr Albanese prepares to meet President Trump for the first time.
“As tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific the last thing Australia needs is a federal government that is deliberately sabotaging our long-term relationship,” Mr Hargreaves said.
Previous comments by members of the Albanese government have similarly raised concerns about the impact on the diplomatic relationship.
Ambassador of Australia to the United States Kevin Rudd came under scrutiny recently for previous comments calling Trump a “traitor to the West” and a “village idiot”.
“The United States, in the past four years, has been run by a village idiot,” Mr Rudd said at a webinar in 2021.
“People have seen China continuing to be competent in its national statecraft and the United States increasingly incompetent in its national statecraft under Trump.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have also made similarly unkind comments about the US leader.
Ms Wong was filmed saying the incoming US President was “prepared to trash alliances and partnerships for personal political interest” in 2021.
Mr Albanese was filmed saying, “(Trump) scares the shit out of me” and “we’ve got to deal with him” during a Q&A in 2017.
Shadow defence minister Angus Taylor has demanded urgent intervention from the Prime Minister to shore up the partnership.
“The Prime Minister must urgently seek a direct meeting with President Trump to safeguard the AUKUS agreement,” Mr Taylor said on Thursday.
“If this review has been triggered by the Albanese government’s refusal to commit to increased defence spending and its sanctioning of two Israeli ministers…
“Then the government has very serious questions to answer about how it is managing our most critical allies.”
Mr Taylor warned that if AUKUS faltered, “Australia would face a dangerous gap in capability at a time when we lack the capacity to go it alone”.
