Far-right American commentator Candace Owens has taken a fresh shot at Tony Burke, weeks after the Home Affairs Minister denied her a visa.
Mr Burke blocked Ms Owens from entering Australia for her speaking tour because she had the “capacity to incite discord”, citing her litany of anti-Semitic comments.
A furious Ms Owens launched legal action against the decision and lashed Mr Burke for what she called a “petty act of vandalism”.
Her latest jab at the senior minister came as part of her reaction to Donald Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Israel.
The US President-elect nominated former Arkansas governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee for the diplomatic posting.
“Can’t believe I was overlooked for Ambassador to Israel,” Ms Owens posted on social media site X on Tuesday (local time).
Hours later, she replied to her own post, which had gained millions of views, jokingly blaming Mr Burke.
“Likely because I will be appointed Ambassador to Australia. Jokes on you, Tony Burke,” she wrote.
Mr Burke denied Ms Owens’ visa amid rising anti-Semitism in Australia sparked by Israel’s casualty-heavy war against Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about (notorious Nazi doctor Josef) Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” Mr Burke said at the time.
He said “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else”.
Far right US commentator Candace Owens said her visa rejection was a “petty act of vandalism”, with tour organisers vowing to challenge the decision.
https://thewest.com.au/news/far-right-american-pundit-takes-fresh-swipe-at-tony-burke-c-16735639
