Interview on the Today show

Karl Stefanovic, Host: Well, more now on the inauguration of Donald Trump. We're joined by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, live from Washington DC. Penny, good morning to you, lovely to see you this morning.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.

Stefanovic: What was it like to be courtside for the inauguration?

Foreign Minister: It's a pretty extraordinary event and such a privilege and honour to be the first Australian Foreign Minister to be invited and to attend an inauguration on behalf of our country. It was great to be there, really quite, as I said, quite an extraordinary event. A lot of pomp and ceremony and the peaceful transfer of power in this great democracy.

Sarah Abo, Host: What did you make of Donald Trump's speech, his inauguration speech? He touched on a lot of things. It wasn't necessarily as optimistic as we would have hoped or as unifying.

Foreign Minister: President Trump has made clear his agenda throughout his campaign, his agenda of America first, his agenda on a number of the issues he went through in his speech. So, he's made it clear he's going to do things differently. For me, I was very privileged to be there for the speech. I was very privileged to be present for the inauguration. I'm really looking forward to engaging with Secretary of State Marco Rubio tomorrow and to also meet with National Security Adviser Waltz in the near future.

Stefanovic: The President will sign a long list of executive orders in the coming hours. Tariffs may not be on the table. However, he did establish during that inauguration speech there'd be the establishment of an External Revenue Service which alludes to perhaps those tariffs being imposed. How concerned are you About that?

Foreign Minister: My message here in Washington to those I meet is to point out the reality of the economic relationship between Australia and the United States, that there is a surplus in America's favour, there has been for decades. In fact, it's About 2 to 1. And of those exports from Australia that come here, About half of them go into the US production. So, it's an economic relationship which is of great benefit to the United States. And certainly those stats will be something I'll keep saying to those I meet when it comes to the very positive trade relationship we have between our two countries.

Abo: Senator, we know, though, that China's firmly in the frame, especially when we are talking About tariffs. How do we tread carefully there? Because our relationship with China is obviously so fragile too.

Foreign Minister: What the United States and China do with each other and their relationship is obviously going to be matter for the two great powers. In terms of Australia – and I think I've been on this program before talking About our objective of making this relationship with China, between China and Australia, more stable – that's what we're focused on. We're pleased that the trade impediments have been removed, and that's obviously been of benefit to Australian jobs. I've also been clear, as has the Prime Minister, that there are things on which we are simply going to disagree and those things are not going to change. So, it's About having a mature relationship, a relationship where we engage and we recognise that there are areas of agreement and there are areas on which we disagree.

Stefanovic: When do you think you'll get clarity on tariffs?

Foreign Minister: The new administration has obviously just been sworn in, and I'm sure they will work through their agenda and other governments, and certainly the Australian Government, will continue to engage and to put our view and to work through any announcements that are made in relevant areas in the days to come. But for the moment, it's great to be in Washington. It's pretty cold here, but it's fantastic to be in the capital watching the inauguration.

Abo: Promising signs too from the incoming Secretary of State, once he's confirmed, Marco Rubio, About AUKUS. So, that agreement seems to be still on track. The issue though, I guess, is going forward once you've left Senator, is Kevin Rudd's role and his relationship there with the incoming Administration.

Foreign Minister: First, in relation to Secretary Rubio's comments on AUKUS, which he made during his confirmation hearings, they were very positive, and I was really pleased to see those comments made. He talked About this being an example of how you can make sure alliances and partnership expand our collective strength in support of peace and deterrence. And that is precisely the case. In terms of Ambassador Rudd, I would make the point the Ambassador has been central to the invitation we've received, my invitation on behalf of the country, he has been central to the opportunity I have to meet with the National Security Adviser and the Secretary of State, and he's been central to the bipartisan support for AUKUS that we have seen. Kevin has been doing an excellent job, and he has certainly developed very strong relationships across the aisle with both Republicans and Democrats to the benefit of our country.

Stefanovic: Just finally, Penny, can I ask, on a personal note, what was it like during the inauguration ceremony when Carrie Underwood's backing CD, or whatever it was they were playing, didn't play, the backing track. Just describe those minutes for us.

Abo: They were awkward.

Foreign Minister: Well, there were these minutes, as you know, we were all waiting, and I actually turned to the person next to me, who was the President's sister, and I said, 'look, she should just sing. I hope she just sings'. And then she did just sing, and it was very moving. She said something like, I need your help. And so, of course, people sang with her. It was actually a very moving moment.

Abo: It was wonderful of her to soldier on because it did get a bit awkward there for a few very long minutes. Senator, thank you so much for join.

Stefanovic: Thank you, Penny. Great to see you.

Foreign Minister: But then she blew it away, so it was fantastic.

Abo: Exactly. Exactly, she absolutely delivered.

Stefanovic: It's the Trump Presidency, expect the unexpected.