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Paul Keating says he gave Anthony Albanese ‘fighting points’ ahead of Trump meeting
Caitlin Cassidy
former prime minister Paul Keating says it provides Anthony Albanese There are “struggle points” ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump So that the US president wouldn’t treat him “disgustingly”.
talking to journalist Troy Bramston Speaking at the State Library of NSW on Monday evening, Keating said he believed the prime minister would be willing to respond strongly to Trump if the situation required it.
I gave our prime minister a bunch of battle points in case Trump mistreats him. Turns out he didn’t have to use them… The meeting went really well but I think the prime minister was prepared for Australia to hit back if he took a punch. [hostility]and I think that’s the way to handle it.
When asked how he would react to Trump if he were in office, Keating called the president a “strong man”:
If you showed even the slightest sign of weakness, you were making fun of him.
He likened Trump’s leadership style to the “mob family model” in that the forces are insular and respected regardless of whether they adhere to the global rules-based order:
Trump’s primary interest is in the western hemisphere. That’s why he’s interested in Greenland. That’s why he’s interested in Canada and Mexico… He doesn’t care about Europe… I don’t think he cares about East Asia… he looks at these places like mafia families… The Chicago family doesn’t bother the family in Florida, right? I think this is Trump’s perspective on foreign policy.
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former prime minister Paul Keating says it provides Anthony Albanese with tips on ways to “fight back” against Donald Trump If only the US president had behaved badly in his last meetings. Speaking at the State Library of NSW, Keating also likened Trump to a mob boss and said the US had “absolutely” won China’s battle for superpower supremacy. More is coming.
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