Diplomatic triumph or ‘capitulation’? Albanese found Donald Trump in a heavenly mood but the devil may be in the detail

Fresh from a tropical holiday, the Australian prime minister caught the US president at his effusive best‘I don’t like you either’: diplomats hold their breath as Trump chides Rudd over previous commentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese was so pleased about his first meeting with Donald Trump, so chuffed with the overwhelming – and somewhat unexpected – praise from the president, the prime minister joked that he’d use the endorsements in his campaign ads at the next election.That’s obviously unlikely to happen – consider the effective campaign Albanese ran against Peter Dutton by comparing him to Trump, and the Labor left flank already ropable over what they view as a fawning and “shameful capitulation” over Aukus and critical minerals. Continue reading...