Paul Keating Reveals the ‘Fighting Words’ He Gave Anthony Albanese to Take Down Donald Trump in Tense White House Meeting
- Former PM Paul Keating prepared Albanese for a hostile Trump with ‘fighting points’ ahead of their October 20 meeting
- Keating warned Albanese that showing ‘the slightest sign of weakness’ would be disastrous with the ‘power guy’ Trump
- Despite initial concerns, the meeting was hailed as a success, with Albanese securing an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal
In a stunning revelation, former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has disclosed that he armed Anthony Albanese with ‘fighting words’ to take on Donald Trump in their highly anticipated first face-to-face meeting at the White House.
Speaking at an event at the State Library of NSW, Keating revealed that he had witnessed Trump’s notorious outbursts against other world leaders and wanted to ensure Albanese was prepared for any eventuality. “I did give our prime minister a heap of fighting points in the event that Trump turned nasty on him,” Keating said.
Keating’s advice proved prophetic, as Trump has a history of clashing with world leaders who dare to challenge him. However, the meeting ultimately proved to be a success, with Albanese walking away with a significant $8.5 billion critical minerals and rare earths deal.
Despite initial concerns about Trump’s unpredictable nature, Keating praised Albanese’s approach, saying he was “up for having Australia punch back” if necessary. “If you showed the slightest sign of weakness, you’re buggered with him,” Keating warned, describing Trump as a “power guy” who demands respect.
The meeting also saw Trump reaffirm his support for the AUKUS submarine pact, following concerns about the US commitment to the $368 billion agreement. Trump’s praise for Albanese continued in the days that followed, with the US President describing their meeting as “great” and saying the Australian leader had “done a fantastic job”.
The outcome has been hailed as a major victory for Albanese and the Australian government, particularly given the rocky start to the US-Australia relationship under Trump’s second term. The US President had imposed sweeping global tariffs, including a 50 per cent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium imports, sparking outrage from all sides of politics.
However, Albanese’s decision not to retaliate with tariffs on US imports to Australia has been seen as a strategic move to appease Trump and protect the long-standing relationship between the two nations.