Related Post
The Australian Labor Party has been slammed for circulating an old photograph of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the wake of the deadly Washington protests.
The picture features the two leaders grinning as they stand side-by-side alongside the caption: ‘It’s the company you keep’.
On Wednesday, Trump sparked worldwide outrage when he encouraged his supporters to march on Washington as lawmakers convened to certify Joe Biden‘s Electoral College victory in the presidential election.
Dozens of protesters – many of them armed and most not wearing masks – breached barricades around the building and pushed past countless police officers to enter the Rotunda.
The Australian Labor Party has circulated an old photograph of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the wake of the deadly Washington protests (pictured in September 2019)
On Wednesday, Trump sparked worldwide outrage when he encouraged his supporters to march on Washington as lawmakers convened to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory in the presidential election (pictured with Mr Morrison in September 2019)
The flash of a police munition lights up the steps of the Capitol during the invasion by a Trump-incited mob (pictured on Wednesday evening in Washington)
In scenes which caused fear and anguish around the world, Trump’s supporters walked right through the corridors of Congress
A small group managed to get into the chamber, where cowering lawmakers were told to put on masks as tear gas filled the air.
Labor’s post in the wake of the riots sparked backlash from Morrison supporters who accused them of ‘stirring up trouble’ by drawing a comparison between the two conservative politicians.
‘Don’t talk s**t. This was before all this crap and no decent politician would treat another President or PM from another country with disrespect no matter whether he liked them or not,’ one follower wrote.
Many also argued that if Bill Shorten or Anthony Albanese had won the Australian election, they too would have met with Trump.
‘Extraordinary lack of awareness,’ one user wrote.
‘Is the suggestion that a Labor PM would’ve refused to meet with our most important ally because they only sporadically respect democracy?’
Trump and Mr Morrison have a close working relationship, but the Australian PM has since condemned the riots in the US (pictured together in September 2019)
A huge crowd of Trump supporters had turned up at the president’s urging to protest the results of a fair democratic election
A Trump supporter puts his feet up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk after storming into the Capitol during an unprecedented effort to subvert a democratic election and keep Donald Trump in power
‘Why are you trying to import American division here? Aren’t you meant to be the party of uniting Australia?’
Mr Morrison and Trump, who has since conceded defeat in the historic election, shared a close working relationship while they were both in office.
But on Thursday AEST, Mr Morrison condemned the riots and publicly welcomed a transition of power from Trump to Joe Biden, the president-elect.
His supporters were quick to make that note on the Labor Party post, while others shared photographs of ‘sweetheart’ New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern also with the President.
When the violence kicked off Trump took to Twitter and urged the protesters to ‘stay peaceful’. A few hours later he posted a video telling his ‘very special’ supporters inside the Capitol that he loves them and understands their pain but urged them ‘to go home’.
The picture features the two leaders grinning as they stand side-by-side alongside the caption: ‘It’s the company you keep’
The mob walked right through the halls of Congress, ransacking offices and brazenly taking photos
Trump supporters marched through the Capitol Rotunda after breaching what appeared to be flimsy security – a stark contrast with the heavy-handed crackdowns that Trump ordered against Black Lives Matter protesters last summer
Meanwhile Biden called for the ‘mob to pull back’ and said the uprising bordered on sedition.
The National Guard was quickly deployed to help police enforce a 6pm curfew in DC. Hundreds of protesters remained on the Capitol grounds after the curfew went into effect.
Just before 8pm lawmakers who had been whisked to safety during the siege began arriving back at the Capitol to resume the certification proceedings.
The lawmakers were seen flanked by armed guards as they made their way into the Capitol.
Labor’s post in the wake of the riots sparked backlash from Morrison supporters who accused them of ‘stirring up trouble’ by drawing a comparison between the two conservative politicians.
Trump and Mr Morrison have a close working relationship, but the Australian PM has since condemned the riots in the US (pictured together in September 2019)
