BILL Shorten has labelled US presidential hopeful Donald Trump “barking mad” over his views.
The Opposition Leader slammed Mr Trump as the “ultimate victory of celebrity politics” and the “ultimate protest vote”, while speaking with Darwin’s Hot 100 FM this morning.
“I got in trouble on the campaign trail for saying what I think — I think Donald Trump’s views are just barking mad on some issues,” he said.
“Some people had a crack and said, ‘You’re not allowed to say that’. I thought, well, John Howard did — I just happen to agree.”
Bill Shorten says Donald Trump is ‘barking mad’. Picture: AFP/Robyn BeckSource:AFP
Asked whether his office had a “contingency plan” for the possibility of Mr Trump’s election, Mr Shorten said, “I once got a letter from a constituent that said, ‘What plans do you have if alien life make contact with Earth?’”
“They’re sort of scenarios you hope don’t emerge.”
Later this morning, Mr Shorten said if a Labor government was elected, it would stick by the American alliance “full stop”, but made it clear he did not support Mr Trump’s views.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has made scathing comments about Donald Trump. Picture: AAP Image/Mick TsikasSource:AAP
“Let’s not exaggerate. Mr Trump’s comments are truly remarkable. And if you think that someone who says that Mexicans are killers and rapists, if you think that I can’t have an opinion about someone that says, about John McCain, that he’s a war hero but Mr Trump prefers war heroes who aren’t captured. You know, really,” he said.
“I think the views he has are not views which sit comfortable with the mainstream of Australian opinion. I think that he represents a turn towards politics which is going to be destabilising for America.
“I don’t believe in a divisive nation. I don’t believe in dividing the nation. I don’t believe in setting up one group of people against another group of people. I have a different world view. But I don’t imagine that if I’m prime minister that I’m going to agree with every political view of every world leader I meet, that would be impossible.”
