Albanese and Dutton Say Australia Can Trust Trump in Times of Conflict

Both leaders have pledged to visit the US if they win the election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks as he and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attend the final leaders' debate in Sydney, Australia on April 27, 2025. Lukas Coch-Pool/Getty Images

Both Australian political leaders have backed the U.S. President Donald Trump to support Australia if there was any outbreak of conflict, during the final leaders’ debate on April 27.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a clear “yes” when asked if the United States could be trusted to have Australia’s back.

The comments come as Australian leaders wrangle with the Trump administration’s decision to implement 10 percent tariffs on Aussie imports.

“The U.S. system of course is very important. When I went to the United States for the official visit, I met with over 100 congresspeople and senators across Democrats, Republicans,” Albanese said during the debate.

“There’s universal support for the relationship with Australia and I think that gives us confidence.”

Albanese did say he had different views and values to Trump, highlighting, “I support free and fair trade, he doesn’t. He thinks tariffs are the way forward for the United States.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on the other hand, said “we can trust whoever is in the oval office.”

“We respect the views of the American people and they’ve elected a president,” Dutton said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work closely with the Obama administration, with Trump mark one, with the Biden administration.

“And I have found even though we might have political differences, the overwhelming sense as the prime minister points out from Republicans on the Hill, in the Senate, in the West Wing, regardless of administrations, there is a strong support for the alliance,” Dutton said.

Albanese Claims He’s Not Sure if Trump Has a Mobile Phone

Albanese also made the claim that he was uncertain if Trump had a mobile phone when asked if he was “texting” the U.S. president to get a meeting.

“No. I’m not sure he has a mobile phone the U.S. president. Or Joe Biden. It is not the way it works, when you have ... with any global leader,” Albanese said.

“Global leaders, you set up, there’s people taking notes from either side. It is not something that is a casual relationship. it’s at a very different level”

The exchange comes as Dutton continues to press Albanese for not securing a phone call with Trump on their tariffs.

Pledge to Visit US if he Wins

Albanese previously pledged to visit the United States if re-elected, saying he has received an invitation from the president.

At the same time, he also earmarked a visit to Indonesia.

“Indonesia was my first bilateral visit in the last term to see President Prabowo Widodo. It was a wonderful visit. I visited Indonesia three times in this term of office, I will, of course visit Indonesia at some stage.  I’ll of course visit the United States,” Albanese said.

“I’ve had invitations from both of those leaders, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”

Dutton also said his first trip would be to the United States if elected.

Albanese Has Travelled to the US 4 Times

During the Biden administration, Albanese made four trips to the United States including an official visit to the White House, a trip to Delaware and multiple visits to California.

In 2024, Albanese travelled to Wilmington Delaware, Biden’s hometown, for a Quad leaders summit.

A year earlier, Albanese visited the White House where he met with Biden for both a private dinner and state dinner. Albanese said Australia had no greater friend than the United States.

“Most importantly, our nations are close friends. Friends who admire each other’s qualities. I think we get each other. Friends who draw strength from all we have in common, but we take joy in our differences as well. Friends who look to the future together without losing sight of the moments in the past that bind us together,” Albanese said.

Albanese also travelled to meet with California Governor Gavin Newsom for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco in November 2023.