By Gill Bikram Singh 
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, calling him a “weak and ineffective leader” in a late-night social media post.
Trump Fires Back at Turnbull’s Criticism
Posting on Truth Social just before midnight in Washington, Trump accused Turnbull of leading Australia “from behind” and failing to understand China.
“Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister of Australia, who was always leading that wonderful country from ‘behind,’ never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so. I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader, and obviously, Australians agreed with me!!!” Trump wrote.
The post appears to be in response to an interview Turnbull gave to Bloomberg, in which he criticized Trump’s leadership as “chaotic” and claimed it benefited China.
Turnbull’s Comments on Trump’s Leadership
In the interview, Turnbull stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping would contrast himself with Trump by being “consistent, respectful, and stable” while Trump remained “erratic and unpredictable.” He suggested that for countries forced to choose between “China on one hand and Trump on the other,” many would see China as the “more attractive partner.”
When contacted about Trump’s remarks, Turnbull responded simply: “His post proves that my comments hit the mark.”
A History of Clashes
Trump and Turnbull have had a rocky relationship, dating back to a heated 2017 phone call over a U.S.-Australia refugee swap deal. Trump criticized the agreement, calling it a “bad deal” and stating it made him look like a “dope.”
However, the two have also shared moments of friendliness, with Turnbull previously recalling that Trump would frequently mention Australian media mogul Kerry Packer, even during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Turnbull, who served as Australia’s prime minister from 2015 to 2018, was removed from office through an internal party leadership vote rather than a general election.