Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has scolded Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for saying Donald Trump would be "very difficult" to deal with if he becomes the next US president.
Ms Bishop said she respected the views of the American people.
"It's a democracy. They have their own election, we should respect whom ever they choose as a president,"she told the Nine Network on Wednesday.
She called on Mr Shorten to explain exactly what would be difficult about dealing with the Republican frontrunner.
Ms Bishop insisted the US alliance was the bedrock of Australia's security and defence policies and also slammed Greens leader Richard Di Natale who's raised doubts over the merits of the alliance.
"Indeed the anti-Americanism we heard from Richard Di Natale is deeply concerning," she said.
Mr Shorten has told a Sydney radio station on Wednesday he will respect whoever becomes the new US president but would be more inclined to vote for Hillary Clinton over Mr Trump if he could.
"Truthfully, Hillary Clinton's values reflect a lot more of the values which I've always espoused, but we'll work with whoever the Americans pick, that goes without saying.
"But Trump, it seems like the personality's taken over the whole of the process. The headline shouldn't dictate the story, should it?" Mr Shorten told 2Day FM.
