On Tuesday, West Australian Premier Roger Cook called J.D. Vance a “knob” in a casual comment during a breakfast event for business leaders. The remark came just days after the U.S. Vice President played a key role in a tense White House meeting with Ukraine, while Australia works to avoid sanctions from the U.S.
Cook, the Labor leader of the state, has been in office for nearly two years and has been outspoken about his criticisms of Donald Trump in the past. The comment was made after Cook had finished speaking at a function in Perth and was answering questions from the audience.
During the Q&A, Cook was asked for a quick response to several names and issues. When it came to Vance, he simply said: “Knob.” The crowd, which included local business leaders and Cook’s predecessor as premier, Mark McGowan, reacted with laughter and applause.
“I’m sorry, you’ve got to have one unprofessional moment on stage, and that was it,” Cook added, laughing.
Later that day, Cook explained the remark at a press conference, saying, “It was a light-hearted unprofessional moment, and I didn’t mean any offense by it.” He added, “When I made the comments, there was a lot of applause around the room, so perhaps some people enjoyed the fun, while others may have been offended. I apologize if there was any offense.”
When asked about the comment, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he would have chosen “different words.”
Western Australia plays a key role in the multibillion-dollar AUKUS defense deal, which involves Australia, the U.S., and the UK. The deal includes providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines and establishing a key base for U.S. Navy assets. A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine is currently stationed off the coast of Perth for AUKUS training.
Vance was involved in a recent controversy when a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became heated. Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and not thanking President Trump for his support in the war against Russia. This caused a stir in international relations.
Australia is a major contributor of aid and military support to Ukraine and is also trying to negotiate an exemption from a planned 25% tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum imports, which could affect the country’s economy.
Cook’s comment about Vance was not the first time he has criticized Trump. Before the U.S. election, he warned that a Trump victory could hurt Western Australia, especially due to the state’s heavy reliance on iron ore exports to China.
In a recent interview, Cook said he didn’t regret voicing his concerns about Trump, especially given the state’s involvement in the AUKUS deal. “One of [Trump’s] key tactics is to be disruptive, so we have to be ready for the shocks that may come and be in a position to respond,” Cook explained.
Cook also emphasized the need for WA to diversify its economy to protect itself from global trade wars. “We can’t just rely on resources or on a single resource,” he said.
After the event, former Premier Mark McGowan agreed with Cook’s assessment. “I thought Roger was entirely accurate. He answered the question honestly,” McGowan said. “Vance is.”
