Fact Check: Did Trump post calling Australian PM Anthony Albanese a ‘retard’?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming to show a post by President Donald Trump calling the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a 'retard' for not helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The claim has sparked speculation among many who question whether Trump actually posted it. Let us analyze and fact-check it.
Claim: Donald Trump called Australian PM Anthony Albanese a 'retard
The claim surfaced as a screenshot showing a post by Trump on his Truth Social account that went viral, in which he called Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, a derogatory term for mentally disabled people.
The full text of Trump's supposed post read, “I am not happy with the RETARD Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony 'Airbus' Albanese. We have helped him so much, but he did not want to help us in Iran."
"A very sad little man! I just heard he travelled to Asia to secure I million barrels of oil, which is ONLY one day of supply for Australia. We could have helped you Anthony, and the great people of Australia, but you made your choice by not helping us."
"WE WILL NOT FORGET!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
Fact Check: Fake, Donald Trump did not post it
The screenshot, however, is fake, as Trump never posted anything as such. A search on Trump’s Truth Social account for the text as in the screenshot yielded no results.
A search on X commentary account that archives Trump’s Truth Social post also did not yield results matching the words in the screenshot.
The fabrication is evident as the font was dramatically different from the one Truth Social uses.
If the post were real, it would have been covered by prominent media outlets, but a Google search for the remark yielded no credible news reports.
Donald Trump slams Australia for lack of support
The screenshot spread as Trump again accused Australia of refusing to help the US in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, to which Anthony Albanese says there has been "no new" request.
"I'm not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there," Trump said. "They were not there, having to do with Hormuz, the Hormuz Strait."
This month, Trump made similar criticisms of Australia and other allies, including Japan, South Korea, and NATO, at a White House press briefing.
"You know who else didn't help us? Australia didn't help us," he said.
