Who's your daddy? Anyone but Donald Trump, please
Listen, I've lived through home perms, Peter Andre, my own children's teenage years and the entire Twilight saga. But nothing prepared me for a grown man with access to civilisation-ending weaponry being called 'daddy' in public.
I'm sorry – what?
Is this it, people? Have we reached peak ick when world leaders sound like they're ordering drinks at a dive bar or typing in the Pornhub comments section: 'Hey daddy, can you pass the nuclear codes?'
In case you missed it (lucky for you if you did), earlier this week NATO chief Mark Rutte called US president Donald Trump 'daddy'. It had Trump looking positively luminous, as if someone had finally spoken his love language but gave me that feeling of shivery disgust like when you accidentally touch wet food in the sink drain.
Repellant? Yes, said Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young: 'He is certainly not Australia's daddy.'
Joe Biden as Dark Brandon was bad enough, and there was a hot minute when Kim Jong-un was called a 'Tumblr daddy', which my mind has almost blocked it out. Because the daddy thing isn't just politically bizarre. It should come with a trigger warning.
Is it sexual? Is it some weird power play? A working through of childhood issues on the world stage? There are therapists for that and they're cheaper than international summits.
I have a high ick threshold (Dr Pimple Popper is my Insta go-to for a quick serotonin boost) but even so, the president of the United States as some powerful dude's daddy is pretty full on.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Minority premier takes campaign crack at independents
Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections. Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday. "I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful. "Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty. "Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state. "They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been." The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers. According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other". Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie. Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament. The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker. Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority. He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart. Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds. The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion. Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table. The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea. "(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said. Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections. Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday. "I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful. "Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty. "Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state. "They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been." The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers. According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other". Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie. Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament. The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker. Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority. He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart. Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds. The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion. Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table. The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea. "(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said. Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections. Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday. "I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful. "Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty. "Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state. "They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been." The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers. According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other". Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie. Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament. The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker. Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority. He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart. Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds. The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion. Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table. The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea. "(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said. Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections. Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday. "I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful. "Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty. "Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state. "They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been." The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers. According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other". Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie. Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament. The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker. Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority. He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart. Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds. The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion. Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table. The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea. "(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Coalition says Australia needs ‘immediate action' needed to solve 'desperate situation' in Australian Defence Force
The federal Coalition has reiterated the need for Australia to boost its defence spending, with the shadow defence minister warning the situation was becoming 'desperate' and 'immediate action' is needed. The Albanese government has rejected the Trump administration's calls for Australia to increase it's defence spending, despite NATO agreeing to increase it's target to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035. Defending the position on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia's defence spending should be driven by the capabilities we need, not an arbitrary target. "We start with the capability. We don't start with the dollars," Mr Burke told Sky News Australia. But shadow defence minister Angus Taylor said the Albanese government wasn't even meeting the goals set out in its own Defence Strategic Review. 'It should be based on need, but his own defence strategic review has laid out where the money needs to be spent, and it's not being spent. I mean, this is the point, this government's not even meeting its own goals,' Mr Taylor told Sunday Agenda. 'Forget the pressure being put on by the United States, this is about what's appropriate for us. 'We are seeing authoritarian regimes across the globe flexing their muscles, and open democratic societies like ours need to stand up for what we believe in. 'And if we are to have control of our own destiny, if we're to play the role we need to play in ensuring we have peace through deterrence in our region, the spending is too low. And the government's own plan demonstrates that." Mr Taylor said defence experts were warning that Australia risked having a 'paper ADF'. 'This is a desperate situation now, and it needs immediate action,' the shadow minister added. The shadow defence minister said there were 'a whole series of areas' in defence that are currently underfunded. 'Our naval surface fleet is not where it needs to be,' he said. 'Right now we're even seeing ships that are not getting the appropriate level of maintenance and sustainment, so they're not in operation as they should be. 'We know we need to increase spending on recruitment and making sure we're getting the people we need into our defence force. We are thousands and thousands of people short of where we should be. "But we also know we need hardening of our northern facilities in places like Tyndall, in Darwin, in Townsville. 'We need to make sure that the Henderson sub facility is getting the investment it needs to be able to build the subs, and also play our role in maintenance and sustainment. 'We need to invest in that drone and counter-drone technology, which we know is playing such an important role in conflicts across the globe. 'All of these things desperately need investment. The underinvestment is really showing.' Mr Taylor said keeping Australians safe and making sure we have peace in the region was the 'first and most important imperative' for government and an inability to do this is a major failure. 'If a government is not in a position to make the investments necessary to achieve peace through deterrence in the region it is in, then it has failed its people,' he said.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Australia may boost defence budget if US asks for more ‘capability', minister says
The Albanese government could boost defence spending if the US asks for more Australian 'capability', a senior minister says. Anthony Albanese has resisted Washington's call to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP despite alarm bells over China's military build-up. The Prime Minister has held firm that Australia would first determine its defence needs and then fund them. But all NATO members bar Spain agreed to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP this week, highlighting Australia as an on outlier in the West. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke hinted on Sunday that could change. 'We make decisions on behalf of Australia and on behalf of Australia's national interest,' Mr Burke told Sky News. 'We have mature, decent, respectful conversations with the United States. 'But as I say, the conversation doesn't start with the dollars at our end – it starts with the capability. 'It is true … now that the world is a less stable place than it was, that means the conversations you're having now about capability are different to what you would have had.' Pressed on whether a US request for more capability rather than a flat GDP figure would free up the funds, Mr Burke said it might but that the Albanese government would 'look at it from the perspective of if Australia requires more capability'. 'We look at what capability's required, and that so far has meant, over time, we've been spending more money on defence than happened before Labor came to government.' US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth directly called on Australia to set the 3.5 per cent target in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles earlier this month. It ignited a major debate in Canberra and fuelled criticisms that Australia is ill-prepared to defend itself against an increasingly aggressive China. While the Albanese government has committed record cash for the defence budget, much of it will not kick in until after 2029. With Australia itself predicting a major global conflict by 2034 and some analysts warning of a US-China conflict before 2030, critics have argued the money is not flowing fast enough and instead tied up in longer-term projects at the cost of combat-readiness. Mr Albanese's resistance to Washington's call has also fuelled worries he has mismanaged the relationship with the US. Appearing on Sky after Mr Burke, opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor repeated the Coalition's demand for a 3 per cent target. He said Mr Albanese 'is right' not to base Australia's defence spending on a figure set by another country, but accused the government of not funding the needs set by its landmark defence strategic review. 'It should be based on need, but its own defence strategic review, has laid out where the money needs to be spent and it's not being spent,' Mr Taylor said. 'I mean, this is the point. This government's not even meeting its own goals.' He added that 'recruitment numbers … are way below where they need to be' and that Australia's 'naval surface fleet is not where it needs to be'.
