Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed a second Donald Trump presidency, saying it would lead to a “rejuvenation of the US economy”.
Morris said the Republican candidate had done a “great” job during the election campaign.
Morrison all but declared victory for the former businessman, saying Trump had “won this election” and believed there would be a result on Wednesday evening Australian time.
Mr Morrison, who left politics to join a US-based security and defense think tank, debunked claims that Mr Trump was a “scary” character after unearthed 2017 footage of Anthony Albanese saying the leader ‘scares the living daylights out of me’. .
‘Vladimir Putin is scary. Xi Jinping is scary. Ayatollah Khomeini is scary. Donald Trump is not scary,” Morrison told Sky News on Wednesday.
“I think the three places that will be most unhappy with this result tonight will be Tehran, Beijing and Moscow.”
Morrison’s premiership coincided with Trump’s first presidency between 2018 and 2021, with Morrison effusively praising the leader.
“The U.S. is an entrepreneurial animal… and I think we’re going to see a lot of confidence building in that economy,” he said.
Former Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) praised Donald Trump and refuted claims that the US president is ‘scary’
Trump and Scott Morrison got along well when the couple was both in office (pictured together)
Mr Morrison also backed former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to continue his role as Australia’s ambassador to the US, saying Mr Rudd had “built those relationships across the aisle”.
On international affairs, Morrison also said he was “confident” he would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Morrison said Trump “does not want to negotiate or enter into a settlement from a position of weakness” and expected the “issue to be resolved.”
“If Vladimir Putin thinks he can easily get out of Donald Trump, he’s in for something else,” Morrison said.
“He will know very quickly that the settlement he ultimately agrees to is not the settlement he now has in mind and that he thinks he can achieve by continuing this murderous war.”
Ambassador’s call about the US elections
Earlier on Wednesday, United States Ambassador Caroline Kennedy said Australia-US relations will continue to deepen regardless of who becomes president, calling Australia “the most trusted, capable ally.”
The former Australian Prime Minister also believes Trump will pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine (photo by Scott Morrison and Donald Trump)
“One of the things I say every day here in Australia is how strong the alliance is and how unshakable and how much stronger it is growing every day,” she told the ABC.
‘I’ve seen that with my own eyes since I’ve been here.
“So regardless of who wins the election, the foundations are in place and are only going to get stronger.”
US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy (pictured) says bilateral ties will deepen regardless of who wins the White House, pointing to AUKUS and the Australia-US reciprocal trade deal.
She pointed to the trilateral AUKUS security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, as well as two-way trade and Australia’s role in supplying the US with crucial minerals.
“So there are so many things that bring us together,” Ms. Kennedy said.
“That’s not going to change.”
Meanwhile, questions loom over Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, in the event of a second Trump presidency.
The former Labor prime minister has called Trump “mad”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.
Questions loom over the futures of both Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd (left) and US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy (right) if Donald Trump wins the White House. In the past, Rudd and Trump have criticized each other
Trump has called Rudd “dirty” and “not the brightest light.”
“If he’s at all hostile, he won’t stay there long,” the former president said in an interview earlier this year.
The verbal barbs have prompted the opposition to question whether Rudd could serve Australia effectively if Republicans win.
Election night polls had Mr Trump and Ms Harris neck and neck ahead of the vote on Tuesday (local time).
The candidate must win 270 electoral votes to become president.