The Murdoch media, particularly Sky News Australia, have been having choice words over Prime Minister Albanese’s reluctance to pick the phone and “face off” with President Trump. They want action, yet I haven’t seen them offer a convincing reason why this contact is essential for Australia. The truth, however, is starkly different: most Australians have little appetite for engaging with Trump and are content to see our government keep its distance. Even an American podcast, The MeidasTouch, has questioned Sky News’ obsession, especially given Trump’s past treatment of Australia – think trade threats and dismissive rhetoric. So why should Albanese feel compelled to pick up the phone?
The answer lies in the absence of necessity. Sky News’ agitation seems driven more by ideological alignment with Trump’s worldview than by any pressing diplomatic need. Australia’s interests – security, trade, and regional stability – don’t hinge on a personal call to a leader whose administration has oscillated between ally and adversary. Trump’s tariffs rattled Australian exporters, and his administration’s response to Albanese’s Palestinian statehood recognition suggests little warmth. Most Australians, polling consistently shows, view Trump unfavourably, favouring a government that prioritises sovereignty over sycophancy.
Sky News’ push appears to reflect Murdoch’s broader agenda – amplifying conservative narratives and pressuring Labor to bend to U.S. influence. Yet this ignores the public mood. Albanese’s focus on independent foreign policy, aligning with nations such as Canada and the UK on issues like Palestine, resonates more with voters than kowtowing to a polarising figure. The MeidasTouch’s bewilderment highlights an international skepticism: why chase a relationship marked by past slights?
Albanese has no obligation to contact Trump unless mutual benefit demands it – and the case hasn’t been made. Sky News’ dismay is a lonely echo, not a mandate. Australians are happy to keep clear of the drama, and our government should follow suit.
Dear reader, we need your support
Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.
One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.
With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.
Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
The perverted, distorted, depraved, corrupted, egofixated Murdochs, eagerly and selfishly pursuing fame, glory, power, money, do not give a fat rat’s rosey ring about Australia, its people, destiny, status. The old warty willy whacker, wife dumper, phone tapper, Blair booster, titsimage flogger, is a media maggot of monstrous magnitude, Printpox. And, his staff are so cringey, grubby, whiney. Finally, Trump is untouchably plaguey, infectiously revolting, uncouth, uncivilised.
Quelle surprise; we don’t have a media to inform but to inflamed?
By coincidence Netanyahu’s and Trump’s chum Putin bombed a US factory Flex, in Hungarian ethnic part of southern Ukraine, dozens of casualties….nada from same three amigos, and Fox Board Abbott’s chum Hungarian PM ‘mini Putin’ Orbán……
Lest we forget: Australia does not currently have an American ambassador in residence, instead, a Chargée d’Affaires person, Erika Olson.
It would seem to say that the Yanks can’t be bothered to observe conventional diplomatic protocols that have been in place for many generations and iterations of governments.
Malaysia, on the other hand, gets a (yet to be confirmed) Islamophobic Australian redneck who fled to America and who brags about his alpha-male perspective on life.
Make of that what you will, but swirling the tealeaves seems to indicate that Oz is very low on any list of actionable priorities per the current American government’s viewpoint, notwithstanding their willingness to accept millions of dollars for phantom subs and their aggressive demand that Oz increases its military spending.
I think The Undead Baron and his Renfield are more concerned with how Albo’s nasty and disrespectful treatment of the Orange Overlord will reflect on them once being Australians. I know it will never happen but he could turn on them and revoke their ‘merican citizenship and kick them out of the country as undesirables. So it’s designer kneepads and rectal brown lipstick all the way with The Donald.
Rupert and Lachlan are suffering an acute episode of political irrelevance thinking that they are losing face with their readership because they are unable to shift what they think is Albanese’s intransigent attitude towards Trump. Are they are unaware that a telephone has 2 ends and therefore each end is able to initiate a connection to the other – if they want to?
If the truth were known, I would suggest that Rudd as our US Ambassador has recommended to Albanese to await an invitation from Trump to visit the White House – that is the established protocol and Albo would be foolish to even consider turning up uninvited.
Now that we hear that BHP and Rio Tinto are developing the Resolution Copper Mine, a large copper deposit in Arizona, you may find an invitation could be combined with a visit to the mine.
In the meantime ignoring the talking heads at News Corp and SKY would be a sensible move.
“In the meantime ignoring the talking heads at News Corp and SKY would be a sensible move.”
Talking heads? Don’t you stench laden gaseous bowels farting smells disguised as words?
And now Brandis of the Bullshit is sticking his grubby brown nose in yet again.
The longer Albo holds off about The Donald the more it will get up the orange nose. He wants world leaders to come crawling on hands and knees to worship at the golden toile…throne (like the LNP would do without hesitation). The only thing they can do is keep whining and whinging, helped by the Undead Baron and his Renfield of course, about how Labor is being horrible and mean to the orange emperor.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/white-house-looks-like-albanese-s-in-trump-s-doghouse-20250824-p5mpaj.html