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April 17, 2026
Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson says Labor must more effectively manage the relationship between Australia and the US.
His remarks follow US President Donald Trump saying he was “not happy with Australia” when he used a question from a Sky News reporter on Australia’s defence spending commitments to take aim at Australia’s assistance in resolving conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Well, I’m not happy with Australia," Trump said outside the White House on Thursday.
Sky News US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley asked the President why, before Trump answered: "Because they were not there when we asked them to be there."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday claimed "there wasn’t an answer given" about what support was lacking in Mr Trump's criticism.
Speaking to Sky News host Laura Jayes on Friday, Mr Paterson weighed in on the relations between Australia and the US.
He emphasised that while the alliance remains strong, there is a need for a more careful approach to managing the partnership.
"I can only take the Australian government at their word; they have repeatedly said there has been no official request from the United States.
"Clearly, the President has a different understanding of that, and it is not a good thing in our most important security alliance that there is a public difference of understanding between the US president and the Australian government.
"What steps has the Australian government and the Prime Minister taken to resolve this?
"Has the Prime Minister spoken to the president about this? Has he asked him why he keeps making these statements repeatedly, publicly? Because I think it needs to be better managed than it is."
Mr Paterson described the alliance as "sound" but expressed concerns over the lack of an Australian ambassador in Washington, DC.
"This is our most important relationship, and this is not a time to have a vacancy in the ambassador's office.
"The fundamentals of the Australia-US alliance are incredibly sound, and we are well integrated in the intelligence and military domain.
"Obviously, though, this is an unconventional US administration. Trump is unlike his predecessors, and his administration operates in an unconventional way.
"But an alliance has to be far more fundamental and more deeply rooted than just the personalities of the day that are in the Oval Office."
President Trump’s latest jab towards the country continues his recent criticism of the Albanese government, having recently claimed Australia “didn’t help” the US amid the war in Iran.
The President earlier this month outlined his grievances towards NATO at a White House press conference, claiming the political and military alliance had “gone out of their way not to help” the US during the war.
“And it’s not just NATO. You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us,” President Trump told reporters on April 6.
“You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us.”
In late March, the President said he was surprised that Australia had refused to help open the Strait.
Last October, President Trump took aim at Australia’s then-ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, suggesting he did not "forget" remarks previously made by the diplomat.
"I think he said a long time ago something bad," Trump said.
"You know, when they say bad about me, I don’t forget".