ABC’s Q + A: Malcolm Turnbull reveals what he really thinks of Donald Trump

Malcolm Turnbull has branded Donald Trump a “tyrant”, delivered a brutal critique of Scott Morrison and questioned whether Israel’s war in Gaza is actually what Hamas wants during his latest appearance on ABC’s Q+A.

The former coalition prime minister sat on a panel on Monday evening alongside writer Rebecca Huntley, British historian Peter Frankopan, Ukrainian-born Sydney academic Olga Oleinikova, and Sydney Uni president of social work Jioji Ravolu, as they discussed whether democracy is in conflict was for her absolute power. survival.

He and Trump had a turbulent relationship while serving as leaders at the same time in 2017 and 2018.

Mr Turnbull said Trump – whom he has repeatedly criticized over the years – was no longer committed to democracy “as we know it”.

He fears that a Trump victory in November threatens to turn the US into an autocracy without the rule of law.

“Donald Trump does not believe the law applies to him,” Turnbull told the crowd.

US President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Malcolm Turnbull during their first official calls at the White House in Washington, DC

“Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and refused to accept it and … encouraged a mob to try to flood the constitutional process in Congress, tried to flood his own Constitution.”

When it was pointed out that Mr Trump is outshining current President Joe Biden, Mr Turnbull replied: “Tyrants tend to be popular.”

“The key to liberal democracy is that it empowers the majority, but also – through the rule of law – constrains the majority,” he said.

He added that democracy meant that there was a rule of law that protected and applied to all citizens.

While Australia has become more dependent on the US, Turnbull said that link would be far less reliable under Trump’s presidency if he were re-elected.

He said the challenge for the Australian government was not to back down.

“Trump is a bully, he encourages people to suck up to him,” he said.

“It’s on record that I didn’t do that… but I think it was a good thing.

“We have to get used to the fact that the US may not be aligned with the same values ​​in exactly the same way as it was twenty, thirty, forty years ago.” That’s a reality we have to live with.’

It was noted that former Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in an interview that Trump was not a threat to Australia’s national security.

But Turnbull said Trump could force Ukraine to surrender to Russia and noted he had already threatened to withdraw from NATO.

The two leaders had a turbulent relationship during their time in power. In the photo, US President Donald Trump (2nd from left) and First Lady Melania Trump (L) welcome Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (3rd from left) and his wife Lucy Turnbull (R)

‘Trump rattled every cage, every alliance. He is attracted to dictators and tyrants,” he said.

“I’m afraid to say, not for the first time, that I disagree with Scott Morrison.”

On Israel’s war in Gaza, Mr Turnbull said Hamas’ attack on October 7 “changed” Israel and “shocked” the world.

“It was meant as a provocation,” he said.

When asked whether Israel should not have accepted the provocation and whether it had been excessive, Mr Turnbull became somewhat critical of Israel.

“The question to ask yourself first and foremost is whether the price of Palestinian civilian lives is now so high that the Israeli military’s claim that it is doing everything it can to protect human life is no longer credible,” he said.

“Their question should be whether they lose so much public support in the world today that they actually achieve what Hamas wanted to achieve.”

Asked if that was his view, he replied: “I fear that Hamas will see the events as entirely in accordance with their provocation.”