Anthony Albanese has sidestepped questions about Donald Trump’s conviction by saying it was a “matter for the US” where 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 US regardless of whether 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 peoples, based on shared values and democratic principles,” Albanese said Friday.
Anthony Albanese has sidestepped questions about Donald Trump’s conviction
Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying corporate records for covering up money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Penny Wong said she would not comment on Mr Trump but reiterated that “we have a very strong relationship and it will continue.”
The presumptive Republican nominee 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.
Trump’s criminal conviction will not disqualify him from running for president under US law, making it entirely possible that he will appear on the ballots on November 5.
Mr Albanese said it would not be “appropriate” to express his views on other countries’ judicial proceedings, although he acknowledged there would be “a lot of public attention to this judgment”.
“This is a US court decision that we do not comment on unless we are participants in other countries’ legal processes,” Mr Albanese said in Sydney shortly after the verdict was handed down in a New York court.
“The presidential election later this year is a matter for the people of the United States.”
Asked whether Mr Trump would be allowed to visit Australia with a criminal conviction, Mr Albanese said: “I’m not going down that rabbit hole.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave a more detailed response to the verdict, which took place live as he appeared on breakfast television.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave a more detailed response to the verdict
“If you look back to 2016, he didn’t win any electoral votes in New York. He is despised there. There are clearly two tribes here and one tribe that loathes and hates him,” Dutton told Channel Nine’s Today show.
‘And you saw some of the emotion in some of the interviews at that moment. And the other tribe, love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides.
“All it will do is strengthen positions on both camps. But obviously it will make for an even more exciting election, I think, in November.”
In a statement on X, Greens leader Adam Bandt urged Australia to reconsider its relationship with its closest ally.
“Donald Trump is unfit to be president and would be a disaster for the US, Australia and the world if re-elected,” Bandt said.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the announcement was “the biggest news in the world” but followed Albanese’s lead in refraining from commenting directly on Trump’s conviction.
“It’s clearly a decision 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, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said relations between the two countries were “more important and greater than that of one individual.”
“No matter who is the president or the prime minister, or which party is in power, the ties that connect our two countries are strong and everlasting,” she said.
Donald Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
He faces fines of up to $7,500 and up to four years in prison for each of the 34 crimes for which he has been convicted. However, experts believe a prison sentence is unlikely because he is a first-time offender.