Attending Trump Inauguration as Australian Representative was a Privilege, says Penny Wong

January 21, 2025 TruthUSA

Wong was the first foreign minister to be invited and attend an inauguration on behalf of Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described attendance at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump as an honour and a privilege.

Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, marking a transition of power with formal ceremonies and an elite Liberty Ball.

Wong was the first foreign minister to be invited and attend an inauguration on behalf of Australia.

“Certainly it was such an honour and privilege to be present at the inauguration to represent you, to represent Australia,” she said on Sunrise.

“It really was, as I said, a privilege and quite an extraordinary event, the transfer of power in this great democracy.”

Wong said she sat just a couple of seats behind tech billionaire Elon Musk at the inauguration service at St. Johns.

While in Washington, Wong is meeting with members of the Trump administration and Congress, along with engaging with other foreign ministers and Quad counterparts.

United States Australia’s Closest Ally

Wong described the United States as Australia’s closest ally and said she was looking forward to working together with the new administration to deliver on shared interests.

Trump is planning to bring in an external revenue service, designed to tax foreign nations and interests rather than just the American people.

The Australian foreign minister said Trump had made clear his agenda would be putting America First, and so she was not surprised by this move.

Wong said she would be meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Jan. 21 (U.S. time), where she will communicate the fact that the Australia-U.S. economic relationship has been “very much in America’s favour” since the end of World War II under President Harry Truman.

“[The trade deficit is] about two to one. And in fact, even of those exports from Australia that go to the United States, about half of them go into U.S. supply chains. So, in terms of adding value to the American economy, Australia certainly does,” she said.

Wong also expressed confidence on the AUKUS defence pact with the United States, noting Secretary Rubio had made positive comments during confirmation hearings.

“I was really pleased to see those comments made. He talked About this being an example of how you can make sure alliances and partnership expand our collective strength in support of peace and deterrence. And that is precisely the case,” she said.

The Foreign Minister said she would not engage in rolling commentary on U.S. domestic policy, including the return of illegal immigrants and gender issues.

Trump Signs Executive Orders

Trump has already signed a raft of executive orders, including a pardon for 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organisation.

The president also signed an order to pause the TikTok ban for 75 days, while he looks for a U.S. buyer for the platform. Within days, 200 executive orders are expected to be signed including recognising only two genders.

The U.S. president will also end automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants in the United States, starting in 30 days.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton described the United States as a great nation and an incredibly important ally during an interview with 2SM radio on Jan. 21.

In relation to Trump, Dutton was optimistic Australians would appreciate his strength of character given the uncertain global times, but also noted they were struggling to pay bills.

“I think President Trump has signalled very clearly in his speech, but well and truly before that, what he intends to do and how he intends to lead. I think Australians can see that we live in an uncertain world and they want somebody with strength and character,” he said.

“I think the American people have demonstrated that they wanted a change, they wanted a change of direction for their country and they’re certainly going to get it under Donald Trump.”

Three Important Strategies for Albanese: Opposition

Meanwhile, Liberal Senator Dave Sharma posted a video from Washington where he outlined three important strategies he would like to see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bring to the table.

“One is to make sure that AusMin, the annual meeting of foreign and defence ministers, Australian, with their U.S. counterparts, is scheduled as soon as possible,” he said.

“The second is to make sure we demonstrate the economic value of the relationship that Australia brings to the United States so we avoid the imposition of tariffs.

“The third thing, and very important, is that we reassess our policy towards the Middle East, and re-establish a friendly and cooperative and working relationship with Israel, because Israel and the Middle East and the ongoing conflicts there are going to be a critical focus for this new Trump administration, and Australia and the U.S. positions are frankly speaking, miles apart right now.”

Sharma previously served as Australia’s ambassador to Israel and highlighted the significance of strong diplomatic relationships.

“I know how important it is for a country like Australia to demonstrate the ongoing and enduring and contemporary value of our relationship with the United States to a new administration,” he said.

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