Donald Trump is about to be the third US President in history to be impeached. Australians won’t be surprised – he’s never been popular here. But Australia’s alliance with the United States is another story. No matter who is sitting in the Oval Office, be it George W. Bush or Barack Obama, the Lowy Institute Poll shows support for the alliance is remarkably resilient.
This doesn’t stop Australians from viewing the United States as in relative decline to China. And most say the alliance makes us safer, but also makes Australia more likely to be drawn into a war in Asia. These shifting dynamics are shaking the foundations of Australian foreign policy. Older Australians see the Trump presidency as an aberration; younger Australians may think he is the new normal. Impeachment in the House and an acquittal in the Senate could polarise Australians even further.
