Australian PM Criticizes Rival Who Called Trump ‘Barking Mad’

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was labelled “barking mad” by Australian opposition leader Bill Shorten on Friday, a statement which was rebuked by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who stressed the importance of U.S and Australian relations.

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After Trump secured enough delegates to win the presidential nomination for the Republican Party, Labor Party leader Bill Shorten claimed Trump’s nomination as the “ultimate victory of celebrity politics … I think Donald Trump's views are just barking mad on some issues," he told Hot 100 radio station.

"Some people in America feel that politics doesn't speak to their lives and Trump is the ultimate protest vote," he said.

Turnbull hit back, declaring the U.S.-Australian relationship as being of "vital importance in every respect," he told reporters.

"You can imagine how Australians would feel if an American president were to describe one of our prime ministerial aspirants as barking mad … You can imagine the ill will and resentment that would create in Australia."

"If you’re asking me to echo what Mr Shorten has said, I have to tell you, I think that would be clearly contrary to our national interest … The choice of president is Americans’ to make,” Turnbull said.

The U.S. is Australia's third-biggest trading partner in terms of two-way trade, and is Australia’s most important diplomatic and security ally.

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The ANZUS Treaty is an important security agreement between the two nations where the U.S. will assist Australia in the event of an attack.

Australia was an ally in the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and recently supported the U.S in the fighting the Islamic State group in the Middle East.

"I have no doubt that the American people will come to a wise and well thought-out decision when they vote later this year," Turnbull said .

"America's a great friend of Australia and whoever they dish up, we'll work with … But wow," Shorten said.

Shorten's center-left Labor Party is gaining ground on Turnbull's conservative coalition government ahead of Austalia's July 2 elections.