Australia's ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, has warned President Donald Trump his trademark "America First" rhetoric will leave allies and trading partners questioning their relationship with America, and risks a horrible impact on the domestic economy.
Amid growing reports of turmoil from inside the White House, Mr Hockey used a speech in Chicago to downplay Mr Trump's combative January phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over an asylum seeker resettlement deal and said some countries unfairly look to the US to solve every problem the world faces.
More World News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:56
Trump v Turnbull: Clarity at last
Trump v Turnbull: Clarity at last
Donald Trump says he doesn't like the refugee deal but will honour it as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull explains how it'll happen. Courtesy ABC News 24, 2SM.
Up Next
Woolly mammoth could walk again
- Video duration
- 01:31
- Video duration
- 01:31
Woolly mammoth could walk again
Woolly mammoth could walk again
It's been extinct for about 4500 years, but Harvard geneticists are working to bring a version of the woolly mammoth back to life.
Up Next
Donald Trump vs The Media
- Video duration
- 00:41
- Video duration
- 00:41
Donald Trump vs The Media
Donald Trump vs The Media
A feisty Donald Trump takes on the media during his press conference at the White house.
Up Next
Clinton unveils Oscar de la Renta stamp
- Video duration
- 01:19
- Video duration
- 01:19
Clinton unveils Oscar de la Renta stamp
Clinton unveils Oscar de la Renta stamp
Hillary Clinton praises designer Oscar de la Renta as an inspiration to striving immigrants, at an event honouring the late fashion designer with a series of commemorative stamps.
Up Next
Donald Trump's combative rambling press conference
- Video duration
- 02:21
- Video duration
- 02:21
Donald Trump's combative rambling press ...
Donald Trump's combative rambling press conference
President Donald Trump spars with reporters for more than an hour, declaring his administration is 'running like a fine-tuned machine' even though he 'inherited a mess'.
Up Next
'A day without immigrants' wins celebrity chef support
- Video duration
- 01:56
- Video duration
- 01:56
'A day without immigrants' wins celebrity ...
'A day without immigrants' wins celebrity chef support
Celebrity chef Jose Andres, is supporting immigrants protesting Trump's tough stance on immigration by staying home from work or school. The protest aims to highlight the role immigrants play in the US.
Up Next
Media is 'out of control' with dishonesty: Trump
- Video duration
- 01:38
- Video duration
- 01:38
Media is 'out of control' with ...
Media is 'out of control' with dishonesty: Trump
US President Donald Trump rips into the media for being 'out of control' and says 'this administration is running like a fine-tuned machine'.
Up Next
New start up hires refugee language tutors
- Video duration
- 01:57
- Video duration
- 01:57
New start up hires refugee language tutors
New start up hires refugee language tutors
A new UK-based startup is hiring refugees to teach languages, including Swahili, Arabic, Korean and Farsi, to university students, business people and private clients.
Trump v Turnbull: Clarity at last
Donald Trump says he doesn't like the refugee deal but will honour it as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull explains how it'll happen. Courtesy ABC News 24, 2SM.
Asked about diplomatic and political concerns in Washington and Canberra, Mr Hockey warned the domestic appeal of isolationist and nationalist politics should be balanced against the impact on strong alliances like with Australia.
"When America says 'America First', as someone with nearly 20 years in politics, I get that . . . but what the rest of the world is hearing is that they're coming second and they're the losers and America is the winner," Mr Hockey told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on Wednesday.
"America is the biggest military power in the world;Â it is the biggest economy in the world;Â its culture is more pervasive and powerful than any other culture in the world, even arguably the English culture, which is pretty remarkable.
"So when you say 'America comes first, everyone else comes after that', I get that for domestic reasons . . . as long as you're mindful that a lot of American companies trade outside the United States [and] the reason it is the richest nation on Earth is because it exports so much."
The federal government has been careful not to criticise the Trump administration in recent weeks, but Mr Hockey urged humility and moderation from the new President.
"If people overseas start looking for alternatives to the United States, that will have a horrible impact on the US," he said.
"When you're the biggest player in town you need to recognise you need to leave something on the table for the other party."
Mr Trump campaigned on a promise to seek a better deal for the US in international trade and defence, taking up the nationalistic "America First" message in his inaugural address.
Mr Hockey compared disagreement between the two leaders over the asylum seeker resettlement deal with an occasional fight between siblings, without lasting consequences.
He said the group held by Australia on Manus Island and Nauru were "economic refugees".Â
He said Mr Trump wouldn't seek to renegotiate the Australia-US free trade agreement, signed in 2005, praising his grasp of international commerce just weeks into his first term.Â
Mr Hockey said Australia was disappointed the US had withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, but was "cheering on the President reducing the cost of the Joint Strike Fighter" project as Australian Defence Force personnel are currently stationed in 31 US states.
17 comments
Comment are now closed