US election: Gina Rinehart joins Donald Trump victory party
WA mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has declared Donald Trump’s election victory the “greatest comeback since 1892” after joining the Republican victory party at his Mar-a-lago residence in West Palm Beach.
“He certainly gave it his all and the people of the USA responded,” she said in a statement to The West Australian
“Very happy for the President and for the USA.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I’d say his presidency will bring more prosperity to the USA than before and he’ll be able to accomplish even more than last time, including making Americans safer when he fixes the border nightmare.”
Grover Cleveland is the only other US president to win a non-consecutive “comeback” second term, in 1892.
Mrs Rinehart, who is a long standing member of Trump support group “the trumpettes”, praised his campaign energy.
“But when does the president sleep?” she said.
“I asked a security man accompanying him and he replied, ‘In the last few weeks almost not at all’.”
Mrs Rinehart’s comments came as Liberal Leader Libby Mettam called on Premier Roger Cook to rescind his previous statement calling a Trump victory a “dark road” for the world.
“His comments are completely out of line,” she said.
“I do not believe that the incoming president of the United States is a threat to WA jobs and his position should be respected.
“The Premier is not meant to be a commentator on this.
“These comments that he has made about a significant trading partner and also an ally illustrate that he’s out of his depth on these matters.”
Liberal MP Tjorn Sibma called Mr Cook’s comments “profoundly indulgent and self defeating”.
“The sensible thing to do if you’re concerned about WA jobs is to pull every lever to make AUKUS work and not antagonise the one guy who can turn it off,” he said.
Mr Cook doubled down during question time in Parliament on Wednesday, describing Opposition questions as “pathetic”.
“There’s no doubt that that we are now in a period of global flux in relation to global trade relations,” he said.
“And that may have an impact in terms of our biggest customer, which is China.”
Originally published on The West Australian
