‘That fella down under’

Yesterday there was a virtual 3 way conference by Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison, announcing that Australia would get details from the US about a new generation of US designed nuclear submarines. It’s a big deal and a new acronym was invoked — AUKUS for Autralia, UK and US.

During this it seems Biden forgot Morrison’s first name, just calling him ‘that fella down under’. Some Trumpian wags jumped on this, as more proof that Biden was losing his memory. Let’s put some context on this. In 1977, the Aussie prime minister Malcolm Fraser visited President Jimmy Carter at the White House. A press conference was held afterwards, and Carter referred to “my good friend John”. Some cringed at this. But see, there is precedence for a US President to forget an Aussie PM’s first name, even after they have been chatting for an hour.

It is quite understandable this would happen. Nothing much occurs in Australia, for good or bad, compared to the US. Australia is not in a big or even a small war. No dreadful natural disaster. Not in an international crisis. Any US president is always tugged by many trying to get his attention. Rarely will he need to regularly talk live with an Aussia PM. Little pressure to remember his name.

The US is a world power. Australia is a minor power. In 1977 and today, these gaffes are an unintended demo of the different power dynamics of both leaders. If you are a typical aussie, you learn to accept this. We are not an important country.