Albanese faces backlash for 'tone-deaf' action upon Canberra return

Anthony Albanese has sparked mixed reactions online after returning to Australia without securing a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump - only to post a photo of his dog lounging in Parliament as global tensions escalate. The Prime Minister used his return to Canberra to post an image of his cavoodle Toto sitting on an orange lounge suite in his Parliament House office.
This lighthearted post came as the U.S. was focused on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran , and while Australia faced pressing issues like trade tariffs and AUKUS discussions. 'Today is International Take Your Dog to Work Day,' he said on Instagram with an image of his cute companion. The Instagram post had supporters with one woman saying: 'I love it. Please don't join the war.'
But one man slammed Albanese for being focused on trivial issues, during a time of economic and geopolitical upheaval. 'Nobody cares. Do your job,' he said. Another said the post was 'tone-deaf'.
The post was made on Instagram after Albanese had returned from the G7 leaders' summit in Canada without securing a sidelines meeting in person with Trump, who cancelled so he could return to the United States early and focus on the Israel-Iran conflict. A meeting had been promised so Australia could lobby Trump to reconsider 50 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium, after import taxes on the metals were doubled on June 4, along with 10 per cent tariffs on most other Australian exports to the US.
The Trump Administration is also reviewing its commitment to the AUKUS submarine deal, which is set to conservatively cost Australia $368billion so it has underwater defence against a more assertive China. Despite the need for leader-to-leader dialogue, Albanese had to settle for meeting with top economic officials in Calgary, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Trump had left the G7 summit early due to the Israel-Iran conflict, cancelling planned meetings with several world leaders including Albanese, who has only ever spoken to the US President on the phone. Trump was also unable to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi but they held a 35-minute phone call at Trump's request, in place of their planned in-person meeting on the summit sidelines.
Albanese, however, was the only leader to miss out, with South Korea's new President Lee Jae Myung also failing to have a promised in-person meeting with Trump at the G7. Albanese last month declined to meet US Vice President JD Vance during his visit to Rome for the Pope's inauguration.
When asked at the time if he had spoken or reached out to him for a meeting, Albanese replied simply, 'No'. 'He arrived quite late in terms of just prior to the mass taking place, as you will have seen,' he said later. The White House has confirmed that Trump will attend the NATO Summit in the Netherlands next week, though his presence may now be in doubt because of the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East.

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