Federal election 2025: ‘Next PM’ Peter Dutton says he can handle Donald Trump

The man now favoured to become Australia’s next Prime Minister will not take Donald Trump literally “on every word.” understanding that the president’s wild statements are often aimed at striking a “deal”.

The interview on Sunday night with Nine’s 60 Minutes came hours after a new poll put Peter Dutton’s Coalition on track to form government.

YouGov’s survey of more than 40,000 Australians found the Coalition was on track to win 73 seats, three short of an outright majority — with a range of between 65 and 80 — whilst the Albanese Government was headed towards 66 — with a range of 59 and 72.

The opposition leader was pressed on how he would handle the new president after Mr Trump slapped 25 per cent tariffs on all aluminium and steel imports.

The president has told Anthony Albanese an exception for Australia is under consideration.

The Coalition leader said he had proven himself to be decisive.

“I think I’ve demonstrated that I’m prepared to make the tough decisions and make the decisions that are in our country’s best interests, and that will include on the world stage as it is here,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think in relation to the tariffs, I think they’re damaging the relationship if they stay in place and not in our interest and not in the United States’ interests.”

Asked about Mr Trump’s proposal for the US to seize control of the decimated Gaza strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, Mr Dutton advised against getting overworked about the president’s every word.

“Well, I think if you look at what the President said, I think one of the things that we need to bear in mind with President Trump is that we shouldn’t be taking a literal interpretation of every word that’s said,” he said.

“The President’s a deal-maker.

“He’s a thinker, he brings people together . . . the transaction has been his life.”

Mr Dutton said it would take time for the world to “recalibrate” to Mr Trump’s style.

The opposition leader has so far backed Kevin Rudd as the nation’s ambassador to America, despite the former Prime Minister’s now-deleted Tweets that labelled Mr Trump “the most destructive president in history”.

But speaking to Sky on Sunday, Mr Dutton said he would “reassess” the ambassador’s positing if it became clear he was unable to wield influence in the White House.

“My instinct would be to leave him in the job,” Mr Dutton said.

“But if there are insurmountable problems that he has or that the administration has with him, then that would make it very difficult.”

The three adult children of the Queensland politician —Rebecca, Tom and Harry — also revealed they had no plans to follow their dad’s career path.

“Not a chance. We’ve definitely had our dose of politics,” Harry told the program.

His wife, Kirilly, said she first met her future husband after he had consumed “20 vodka Red Bulls”.

And as her husband continues to climb in the polls, Mr Dutton heaped pressure on the teals.

He told Sky News that if the Liberals and Nationals were “a number of seats ahead of the Labor Party” that it would be “unusual” for independents not to offer confidence and supply in the event of a hung parliament.

Labor is heading into the election — which can be held no later than May 17 — with 77 seats to the Coalition’s 53.