Deputy PM Stands by US-Australia Relationship After WA Premier’s Jab at JD Vance

Both sides of federal politics have stood by the alliance and AUKUS.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles (L) participate in a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia on Feb. 7, 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has stood by the U.S.-Australia alliance after Western Australian Premier Roger Cook made a public jibe about U.S. Vice President JD Vance at an event in Perth.

Labor Premier Cook, who faces the Western Australian people at the polls on March 8, called Vance a “knob” during a campaign event, eliciting laughter from the audience.

In response, Marles, the federal defence minister, said he “wouldn’t use that language” to describe the vice president.

“I think Premier Cook has also perhaps said that this was not a moment of the greatest discipline on his part, which we can all understand,” Marles said on ABC New Radio.

“But look, we are working very closely in building our relationship with the new administration in Washington. That is obviously not language I would use in terms of describing the American vice president.”

To put it in context, during the event Cook was asked to complete the following sentence: “JD Vance is a ...” to which he responded “knob,” drawing laughter and applause from the audience.

However, Cook was later forced to apologise during a press conference in Pinjarra on March 4 where he admitted it may have been unprofessional.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia on Feb. 7, 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images

“It was a light moment in the event earlier today, perhaps an unprofessional moment. I hope it was taken in the spirit in which it was intended,” Cook told reporters.

“Let’s just make the observation that when I made the comments, there was a lot of applause around the room. So perhaps some people enjoyed the fun that came with it. Other people might have been offended.”

Cook’s comments came just days after Vance, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fiery exchange at the White House.

Vance accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the White House and not being grateful enough for United States support.

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook speaks to media during a press conference at Dumas House in Perth, Australia on May 31, 2023. Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Zelenskyy has since written a letter to Trump stating he is ready for peace and ready to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump read out the letter during an address to Congress in the evening of March 4.

Relationship with New Administration ‘Going Well’

Males also talked up the relationship between the Australian government and new administration.

“If you look at the speed with which I’ve been able to meet my counterpart in Washington, I was the first of his international counterparts that he met at anyone around the world.”

Marles noted the Foreign Minister Penny Wong was the second foreign minister to meet Secretary Marco Rubio.

“In terms of any foreign minister around the world. We’ve now had two discussions between the prime minister and the president. You know, there is a real courtesy and respect which is being afforded to us by the Trump Administration, and we’re grateful for that,” he added.

In a separate interview, Marles also expressed confidence in the AUKUS defence pact going forward, noting he had recently met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

“Both he and I were very fulsome in our support for AUKUS. Secretary Hegseth made it really clear about where the administration’s position is in relation to AUKUS. But none of that’s a surprise because those around the Trump team prior to the election, Trump Republicans have been supportive of AUKUS both in word and in deed,” Marles said on 5AA Mornings.

AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership on defence and technology between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States involving nuclear submarines for Australia.

United States an ‘Important Ally’: Dutton

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also talked up the importance of the United States as an ally.

“They came to our aid in the Second World War; the future of our country – we’d be living in a very different country today if it wasn’t for the United States and the United Kingdom, and that’s why those historical relationships are important. The ANZUS alliance is incredibly important. Australia’s stood shoulder to shoulder in battles with the United States over the last hundred years,” Dutton told reporters.

He said whatever happened into the future, Australia’s interests were best served by a strong relationship with the United States, the United Kingdom, other Five Eyes partners and with allies Japan and India.

A  recent RedBridge and Accent Research poll found 69 percent of Australians believe it is important for party leaders to be able to work with Trump.