Clive Palmer announces his new political party, Trumpet of Patriots

Billionaire Clive Palmer has launched a new political party inspired by the politics of US President Donald Trump, vowing to “make Australia great again”.

The mining magnate shared details of the new political party, called Trumpet of Patriots, at a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday.

The full-house press conference featured a show reel of US commentator Tucker Carlson’s glowing review of Mr Palmer.

Party president Glen O’Rourke confirmed that Mr Palmer had been elected as chairman and spokesman for Trumpet of Patriots and said he would “drain the swamp in Canberra”.

Speaking to a packed room, Mr Palmer praised US President Donald Trump and said his party would “make Australia great again”.

He said party policies would include sizeable reduction in immigration, banning trans-athletes and rescinding ex-prime minister Kevin Rudd’s posting as Australians ambassador to the US.

“The party believes in the policies of Donald Trump, which is shown to be effective in bringing management back on track,” he said.

“Peter Dutton has stated the he’s no Donald Trump, and we agree with him. Albanese presided over declining standard of living for our country in each and every year he served as prime minister.

“Australia needs Trump policies. Australia’s want them.”

The party will be led by NSW Hunter candidate Suellen Wrightson, who will challenge Labor incumbent Dan Repacholi.

According to the party’s temporary website, Trumpet of Patriots is promising “commonsense policies for Australia” and will be critical of the “Labor and Liberal duopoly” as well as the Greens and teal independents.

The website also features candidate nomination forms for both lower house and senate seats.

“The simple reason your cost of living is so high is because Australians are being ripped off by the political system, unelected bureaucrats and the lobbyists who support them,” the website says.

“Enough is enough! We will drain the swamp!”

United Australia Party gone

Mr Palmer’s political pitch follows the voluntary deregistration of his former United Australia Party (UAP) in late 2022, which was unable to be re-registered despite a failed High Court challenge.

The Queensland-based rich lister has also previously spent $123m on the 2022 federal election, which installed his candidate Ralph Babet in the Senate.

Anthony Albanese dashed the political effectiveness of Mr Palmer’s new party while acknowledging people were entitled to run.

“A bloke who spends over $100 million to deliver one senate seat with a bloke who sits in the corner and just engages in conspiracy theories I don’t think represents value for money,” the Prime Minister said.

“I’m not sure what the objective of them is, but people are entitled to put themselves forward in an election, but if you’re a serious political party, then you have to have serious policies.”

More to come