Australia's Foreign Minister 'looking forward' to working with Trump administration
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said she is "looking forward" to working with President Donald Trump after attending his inauguration.
Alongside other world leaders and Quad Foreign Ministers, Wong showed her support for Trump, emphasising that the US was "Australia's closest ally."
Trump has recently captured headlines with bellicose comments about Canada, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and Greenland, as well as his mention of imposing sweeping tariffs, which could potentially impact Australia's heavily trade-based economy.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong with Quad Foreign Ministers to represent Australia at President Trump’s inauguration. X
Speaking on Today, Wong expressed her eagerness to meet with the new administration and discuss the "economic relationship" between both countries, which she said "was of great benefit".
"President Trump has made clear his agenda throughout his campaign, his agenda for America First, his agenda on a number of the issues he went through in his speech. He has made it clear he's going to do things differently," Wong said.
"I was very privileged to be there for the speech. I'm really looking forward to engaging with Secretary of State Marco Rubio tomorrow, and to meet with the national security adviser, Mike Walz, in the near future."
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the US, promising a "revolution of common sense".
He pledged to "completely and totally reverse" the actions of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump claimed "a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal", promising to "give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom".
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive in Emancipation Hall. AP
President Donald Trump salutes during the 60th Presidential Inauguration. AP
Earlier this month, Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders.
There was no word on specific measures targeting Australia but the potential for an escalating trade war or flow-on effects from a weaker Chinese economy had many experts worried.
"My message here in Washington to those I meet is to point out the reality of the economic relationship between Australia and the United States, that there is a surplus in America's favour and there has been for decades," Wong said on Today.
"Of those exports from Australia that come here, about half of them go into the US production. It's an economic relationship which is of great benefit to the United States.
"Certainly those stats will be something I'll keep saying to those I meet when it comes to the very positive trade relationship we have between our two countries."
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President Donald Trump delivers remarks after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, as former President Joe Biden looks on. (Shawn Thew/Pool photo via AP) AP
It comes as Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Trump, posting on social media
"Congratulations (Donald Trump) on your inauguration as 47th President of the United States. The United States is a great friend of Australia's," he said.
"Our Alliance has never been stronger.
"I look forward to working with you on the opportunities and challenges ahead."
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