After Canada, Trump could drag down conservatives in another election in Australia

President Donald Trump is at the center of a national election in Australia, where support for conservatives has dropped among voters angered by U.S. policies.

Days after a Canadian election that hinged on who would best stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, he is at the center of an election in another liberal democracy.

Trust in the United States is plummeting in Australia, which votes Saturday amid global financial turmoil sparked by tariffs Trump has imposed on trading partners around the world including Australia, a U.S. ally and vital security partner in countering China.

As in Canada, Australia’s opposition conservative party, the Liberal Party, was primed to win before Trump returned to office, thanks to public anger over the cost of living and record-high home prices. But it has since lost support among voters increasingly concerned about how their government will handle Trump.

On Thursday, two polls showed the Liberals trailing the center-left Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australian Prime Minister visits Winthrop Primary School in Perth on Thursday.Asanka Ratnayake / Getty ImagesHis opponent, Peter Dutton, has pushed the Liberals further to the right since becoming party leader in 2022.