Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about Donald Trump’s conviction, saying it is a “US issue” and he could still be re-elected as president later this year.
But the Prime Minister said there would be no effect on Australia’s relationship with the United States if Trump or incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden won in November.
“I am certainly not concerned about our relationship with the United States because it is a relationship between our people based on shared values of democratic principles,” Albanese said Friday.
Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about Donald Trump’s conviction
Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for covering up money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she would not comment on Trump, but reiterated that “we have a very strong relationship and that will continue.”
The presumptive Republican nominee was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for concealing money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s criminal conviction will not disqualify him from running as a presidential candidate, according to US law, making it entirely possible for him to appear on the ballot on November 5.
Albanese said it would not be “appropriate” to offer his opinions on other countries’ court proceedings, although he acknowledged there would be “a lot of public attention on this verdict.”
“This is a decision of the American court that we do not comment on when we do not participate in judicial processes in other countries,” Albanese said in Sydney shortly after the verdict was handed down in a New York court.
“This year’s presidential election is a matter for the people of the United States.”
Asked if Trump would be allowed to visit Australia with a criminal conviction, Albanese responded: “I’m not going down that rabbit hole.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton offered a more detailed reaction to the verdict which came live while appearing on breakfast television.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton offered a more detailed reaction to the verdict.
‘If you look back to 2016, he didn’t get any electoral votes in New York. They despise him there. “There are obviously two tribes here and one tribe that loathes and hates him,” Dutton told Channel Nine’s Today programme.
And at that moment you saw some of the emotion in some of the interviews. And the other tribe, loves him and adores him, and for different reasons on both sides.
‘The only thing it will do is reinforce the opinions of both sides. But obviously, I guess the November elections will be even more exciting.
In a statement published on X, Greens leader Adam Bandt urged Australia to reconsider its relationship with its closest ally.
“Donald Trump is unfit to be president and it would be a disaster for the United States, Australia and the world if he were elected again,” Bandt said.
Education Minister Jason Clare called the announcement “the biggest news in the world” but followed Albanese’s lead in refraining from commenting directly on Trump’s conviction.
“It’s obviously a decision that the American people will have to make later this year about who will be the next president,” he added.
Asked what the ruling meant for Australia, Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley said relations between the two countries were “bigger and more important than any individual”.
“Regardless of who is president or prime minister or which party is in power, the ties that bind our two countries are strong and enduring,” he said.
Donald Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
He faces fines of up to $7,500 and a maximum of four years in prison for each of the 34 felonies for which he was convicted; However, experts believe that it would be unlikely that he would be imprisoned because it is the first time he has committed a crime.
