Minister deletes Trump ‘big baby’ tweet
A “childish” tweet from the Home Affairs Minister in which she branded Donald Trump’s son a “big baby” and a “sore loser” has been taken down within an hour of posting.
Donald Trump Jr was scheduled to make appearances in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne later this week but event organisers Turning Point Australia informed ticket holders on Wednesday evening that the tour would be postponed.
On Thursday morning, Clare O’Neil took to Twitter to debunk speculation visa delays had led to the cancellation of Trump Jr’s anti-cancel culture tour of Australia.
“Geez Donald Trump Jr is a bit of a sore loser. His dad lost an election fair and square – but he says it was stolen,” she said.
“Now he’s trying to blame the Australian government for his poor ticket sales and cancelled tour.
“Donald Trump Jr has been given a visa to come to Australia. He didn’t get cancelled. He’s just a big baby, who isn’t very popular.”
The remarks were quick to draw criticism from the opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, who slammed the minister’s “juvenile” tweets.
“Like it or not, Trump could be elected president again in less than 18 months. If that happens, I hope for the sake of the AUKUS agreement that cabinet ministers in national security portfolios are able to restrain themselves from juvenile tweets like these,” he said.
In a later tweet, the Liberal senator said Ms O’Neil should leave the “woke” comments to Labor backbenchers.
“It’s good to see these childish tweets have now been deleted. The minister should leave the woke tweets to Labor backbenchers and get back to focusing on the serious national security challenges facing Australia,” he said.
When asked why the original statement was made and who directed it be taken off Twitter, a spokesman for Ms O’Neil declined to comment.
Standing up a short time after the tweet was deleted, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – while not asked specifically about the tweet – said Mr Trump Jr’s visa had been “dealt with in the normal way”.
“Like everyone else, he was entitled to come here. The deferral of his travel is a matter for him,” he said.
Asked about whether Ms O’Neil’s comments, and that of Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney – who in a National Press Club address on Wednesday accused the Voice “no” campaign of invoking “Trump-style politics” – would “come back and bite”, Mr Albanese would not be drawn.
He said he was not focusing on the impending US election, only the 2025 federal election.
Turning Point Australia originally told ticket holders the Donald Trump Jr Live tour had been postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
“Ticket holders are urged to hold on to their tickets, with details of the rescheduled date to be confirmed in the coming days,” the event organiser said in a statement posted to the tour website.
General admission tickets to the speaking tour, which also featured former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage and Liberal senator Alex Antic were being sold for $89, while a backstage ticket would set someone back $495.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles suggested a lack of ticket sales could have been the real reason Trump Jr cancelled the tour last minute.
“Every visitor is treated equally when it comes to their visa application. Every application is treated on its merits under Australia‘s immigration system,” Mr Giles said.
“Now I‘d be really clear about this. I don’t share many of Mr Trump’s views but that is entirely irrelevant to decision-making. He is entitled to express them if he meets the requirements of the Migration Act.
“Any matters going to the postponement of this tour are entirely for Mr Trump Jr. and of course his tour promoters.
“It may of course be that the reason for the postponement goes to the lack of enthusiasm for ticket sales, rather than any of the issues that they've raised.”
A change.org petition calling for the President’s son to be denied a visa to Australia had attracted more than 20,000 signatures prior to the tour’s cancellation.
