Trump, using the Truth Social platform, criticized Turnbull, claiming that he led Australia from “behind” and lacked the comprehension of China’s matters.
Turnbull reportedly responded to Trump’s criticism in an interview with Bloomberg, stating that Trump’s unorganized leadership approach would benefit China.
The former prime minister observed that many countries, faced with the choice between aligning with China or Trump, might prefer China as a partner.
Turnbull maintained that his comments in the interview were self-explanatory when reached out to by The Guardian.
In the interview, Turnbull deemed Trump’s behavior as “erratic,” potentially favoring China’s consistent and respectful approach.
Turnbull also suggested that Trump’s policies might inadvertently push countries closer to China.
The former prime minister advocated against being sycophantic towards Trump, emphasizing that it wouldn’t achieve the desired outcomes for leaders worldwide.
Turnbull interpreted Trump’s response as validation of his initial comments.
The relationship between Trump and Turnbull has been tumultuous, including a contentious phone call in 2017 regarding a refugee deal.
Despite their disagreements, Turnbull has also noted softer moments with Trump, including instances where Trump would reference Kerry Packer.
Turnbull’s leadership from 2015 to 2018 ended not through an election but rather an internal Liberal party leadership battle, with Scott Morrison taking over as Prime Minister.
