Liberal politicians have branded Anthony Albanese a “dud” following his criticisms that Scott Morrison cosied up too much to Donald Trump.

“If people want to have a crack at me because I worked with the President of the United States, well I think that reflects more on them than me,” the Prime Minister said in response to Mr Albanese’s harsh assessment.

Mr Morrison later slammed Mr Albanese’s major foreign policy speech on Wednesday as “petty politics”.

In his speech to the USAsia Centre, the Labor leader claimed Mr Morrison had botched the US-Australia relationship, and “neglected” the senior team of incoming President Joe Biden. Mr Albanese accused Mr Morrison of going “too far” in his support for Mr Trump, and that he was “afraid” of his Trump-supporting maverick backbenchers George Christensen and Craig Kelly.

“Mr Morrison wants to ride this tiger because he thinks he’s on a political winner – but we have seen this month that the longer you ride it, the harder it is to dismount,” Mr Albanese said in his speech.

Mr Morrison said Mr Trump’s actions had been “disappointing”. Photo: AAP

The Prime Minister had been criticised for not more forcefully speaking out against Mr Trump’s role in encouraging the insurrection at the US Capitol.

At a press conference in Queensland on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Morrison blasted Mr Albanese’s claims.

“The relationship [with the US] is bigger than the petty politics and pointscoring we saw played out today. I think that is disappointing,” he said.

“It is not a political plaything. If you think it is, you don’t get it.”

In an earlier 2GB radio interview on Wednesday morning, the PM downplayed Mr Albanese’s claims and again gently chided the outgoing President, while also praising Mr Trump’s time in office.

“The last couple of months really detracted from other things that they were able to achieve over the last four years,” Mr Morrison said.

“That’s what was really disappointing. But, you know, some very good people in that administration. I particularly worked closely with the Vice President who I get on very well with and Secretary Pompeo… it has been very, very disturbing what we’ve seen, particularly around Capitol Hill, but it’s been a year full of violence, in many ways last year in the United States.”

Mr Morrison claimed Mr Albanese’s comments were “disappointing”. Photo: AAP

Mr Morrison said he was “confident” America would “bounce back”.

“I think they’ll rally and they’ll come together. And that’s very important for Australia. It’s the most important relationship we have,” he said.

“Whoever the Prime Minister is and whoever the President is, it’s important that, both of us steward that relationship for the benefit of both of our countries and anyone who doesn’t understand that, just doesn’t get it.”

He didn’t mention Mr Albanese by name, but other Liberal politicians did, in their own responses to the Labor leader’s speech.

https://twitter.com/DaveSharma/status/1351647195473170432

Wentworth MP Dave Sharma, a former diplomat, claimed Mr Albanese’s speech showed he “misunderstands” the role of a leader.

In a reply to Mr Sharma’s tweet, fellow Liberal MP Tim Wilson went even further.

“You’re being polite Dave. It’s clear [Mr Albanese] would rather be reckless with the US alliance to appease partisan interests, rather than cooperate to advance Australia’s defence, security, intelligence and economic interests,” the Member for Goldstein tweeted.

“No wonder many in Labor see a dud, & now say it publicly.”

Liberal James Paterson fired off a five-tweet thread, defending Mr Morrison close relationship with Mr Trump by saying “it worked”.

By opportunistically attempting to seize domestic partisan advantage on the final day in office of an unpopular US President, Anthony Albanese is showing he is not be steady hand required to manage our most important international relationships. 3/4

— James Paterson (@SenPaterson) January 19, 2021

“While other countries struggled to engage in Washington, we avoided tariffs, maintained refugee resettlement and profoundly influenced the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy,” Senator Paterson tweeted,

He added that unnecessarily attacking Mr Trump “would not have been in Australia’s national interest”.

Labor’s shadow foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Mr Morrison should have been stronger in his criticisms of Mr Trump, following the Capitol insurrection.

“We have seen from Mr Morrison is an approach which put his political affinity with Mr Trump and his political interests ahead of the stewardship of the relationship,” she told Sky News.

“I don’t think you steward the relationship by not being unambiguous in your defence of democracy.”