A LOCAL US expat has branded presidential nominee Donald Trump “crazy” as the former reality TV star tightens his grip on the White House.
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The condemnation comes as CSU politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford claimed Mr Trump “wouldn’t last two seconds in Australia.”
“Trump would be howled down by political correctness and the Australian media would go after him with rusty knives,” Dr Whitford said.
“He can capture the imagination of Americans who are fed up, but the established political elites won’t put up with him for very long.
“He appears to be cantankerous and difficult to work with but no one has a right to tell another democracy who they can and can't have as a leader.”
Wagga resident Diane Mortimer, who returned from the US on Friday, likened Mr Trump to One Nation Party Leader Pauline Hanson.
“Like Pauline Hanson, some of what he says is ridiculous and some is what Australians are really thinking,” Mrs Mortimer said.
“I think he's crazy, I think he's outrageous, but he’s a fabulous marketer and he’s marketing himself well.
“Americans are fed up with the political system and I think he's got a stronghold because he tells people what they want to hear, even though he may deliver it in a whacky, politically incorrect way.
“He’s never been in politics before so he might be able to run the country like a business.”
Mr Trump has taken advantage of American anger at a sluggish economy and illegal immigration, proposing to build a 3200-kilometre wall between the US and Mexico.
The battle between the New York billionaire and his closest competitors has become nasty ahead of this week’s decisive round of nominating contests nicknamed Super Tuesday.
The Republican party’s next most likely candiate, Marco Rubio, mocked Mr Trump for being the only contender fined for hiring illegal immigrants.
Former prime minister Tim Fischer slammed Mr Trump’s staunch support of America’s lax gun laws.
“Republicans are crazy about continuing the idiotic gun policy driven by the NRA, which means they’re 15 times more likely to be shot than in Australia,” Mr Fischer said.
“But I think Trump should not be banned from visiting Australia as the UK House of Commons has sought to debate.
“The new ambassador Joe Hockey should be reaching out to both the Republicans and Democrats to establish high level contacts.”
Mr Fischer added Mr Trump was more likely to support the progress of the Trans-Pacific Partnership than his likely opponent Hillary Clinton.
