Malcolm Turnbull's warning to Australia about Donald Trump
Malcolm Turnbull has said Australians should be concerned that Donald Trump is moving into the 'realm of authoritarianism'.
Protests in Los Angeles, which saw a police officer turn a gun on an Australian reporter and shoot her with a rubber bullet, continued into Wednesday.
The US President sent 700 US Marines as well as California National Guard to LA, brushing off California Governor's concerns that they would inflame the situation.
He has also flirted with invoking the Insurrection Act, which offers statutory authority to use the military domestically in case of rebellion or insurrection.
Former Prime Minister Turnbull responded to the events on Tuesday, warning that Trump is 'trying to provoke a greater crisis' in the US.
'These are dangerous times in America,' he told ABC News.
'There are many people in America now who are concerned that America is slipping into a realm of authoritarianism, almost of tyranny, and that should be very concerning for us.'
Mr Turnbull also addressed how Anthony Albanese should approach a deal with Trump in order to negotiate the blanket, global tariffs the US President imposed.
The Prime Minister and Trump are both expected to attend the G7 Summit in Canada next week and it is understood the two leaders could meet.
'If you go along and seek to strike a deal with (Trump), how do you know that he will abide by it?' Turnbull said.
'He does not regard his word as his bond.'
Describing the global tariffs as an 'affront' to Australia, Mr Turnbull doubled down on his belief that the US needs trade with the other countries.
'No deal is better than a bad deal. Mr Albanese has got to be prepared to actually get on the front foot with Trump,' he said.
Referencing the US submarine industrial base set to be in Australia under AUKUS, the former Prime Minister suggested Albanese should threaten to 'reconsider' payments for it if the tariffs are not removed.
'The only people (Trump) seems to be getting along with are dictators,' Mr Turnbull said.
'Now he's got to have some friends in the free world.'
Trump (pictured) and Anthony Albanese are due to meet in Canada for the G7 Summit next week during which they are expected to meet to discuss tariff negotiations amid the turmoil occurring in California
Mr Turnbull was speaking after he published a piece last Friday in Foreign Affairs, arguing Australia should honour agreements with the US but expand relationships to other nations.
'Those countries that still believe in free trade need to work together to promote new free-trade arrangements (and extend existing ones) that do not involve the United States,' he said.
'US allies need to find alternatives to the power of the US market.'
Albanese was pressed on relations with Trump and the US during his address to the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Asked what he made of the shooting of Nine News US correspondent Lauren Tomasi, he described the footage as 'horrific'.
'I spoke with Lauren this morning. She's going ok. She's pretty resilient, I've got to say,' Albanese said.
The Prime Minister was questioned on whether he would raise the shooting with Trump when he is expected to meet the US President at the G7.
But Albanese said he would keep any conversations between himself and Trump private.
New US trade tariffs will be at the centre of discussions at the international forum, with Australia trying to carve out an exemption for its exports, such as steel and beef.
Australia had been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff on all exports to the US, with steel and aluminium products having a 50 per cent tariff.
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