July 7, 2023
Donald Trump Jr has been described as “a big baby” and “sore loser” in a scathing attack from Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill after the former US president’s son blamed the Australian government for his tour being delayed.
Senior government figures including Ms O’Neill and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles blamed poor ticket sales for the postponement of the Australian tour which was due to start on Sunday.
Ms O’Neill took to social media to call out Mr Trump’s accusations that emerged on Wednesday.
“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. Now he is trying to blame the Australian government for his poor ticket sales and cancelled tour,” she said.
“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 tweets have now appear to have been deleted.
Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson called Ms O’Neil’s comments “childish”.
“It’s good to see these childish tweets have now been deleted,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The Minister should leave the woke tweets to Labor backbenchers and get back to focusing on the serious national security challenges facing Australia.”
It came as Immigration Minister Andrew Giles wiped his hands clean of claims the federal government delayed the visa application.
He also pointed fingers at ticket sales and a “lack of enthusiasm” as a potential reason for the delay.
Mr Giles said he treated Mr Trump’s visa application in the same way as any other person regardless of the star’s controversial and polarising views.
“Every visitor is treated equally when it comes to their visa applications,” he said.
“(His visa) was treated in the same manner as anybody else’s.
“I don’t share many of Mr Trump’s views but that is entirely irrelevant to my decision making, he is entitled to express them if he meets the requirements of the migration act.”
Mr Giles said the visa was processed in the “standard manner”.
“There were no delays, his visa application was treated in the standard manner,” he said.
“It may of course be that the reason for the postponement goes for the lack of enthusiasm for the ticket sales rather than any of the issues being raised today.”
Donald Trump Junior is welcome to tour Australia after the federal government approved his visa amid claims from his organisers that the government did not approve his visa until 24 hours before his flight Down Under.
The controversial figure and son of former US President Donald Trump was due to hit Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne from Sunday but tour organiser Turning Point Australia abruptly announced the shows will be delayed.
The delays have prompted a circus of competing claims with government sources saying Mr Trump only applied for a visa two weeks ago and it was granted on Wednesday morning but event organisers claiming the visa was delayed.
In a pointed statement on their Facebook account late on Wednesday, organisers Turning Point Australia blamed the government for the delays.
“It seems America isn’t the only country that makes it difficult for the Trumps … Hold onto your tickets, this is a short delay nothing more. #CancelCulture,” they said.
They followed up with another statement claiming: “The visa which has now been issues, was only received late afternoon of Wednesday 5th July; only 24 hours before Donald Trump Junior was set to board a flight to Sydney.”
The delay was revealed by Sky News host Sharri Markson who reported promoters had claimed the speaker had not had his visa granted.
A spokesman from Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government did not intervene in Mr Trump coming to Australia.
“It’s up to Donald Trump Junior whether or not he comes to Australia, but there is no immigration impediment to him coming here.”
The Telegraph has been told the visa was granted on Wednesday morning about two weeks after it was said to have been applied.
Mr Trump’s visit to Australia has been slammed by his critics with a petition to have his visa denied garnering 21,000 signatures.
“Ban him from this country,” the petition on change.org said.
“It’s up to Donald Trump Junior whether or not he comes to Australia, but there is no immigration impediment to him coming here.”
The Telegraph understands the visa was granted on Wednesday morning and was applied for about two weeks ago.
The organisers have refuted the claims and said the visa was applied over 30 days ago.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Andrew Giles added: “As is long standing practice, the Minister does not comment on individual cases. Questions as to the reason for the postponement should be directed to tour promoters or Mr Trump’s representatives.”
