Donald Trump Jr.’s Controversial Australian Tour Faces Challenges As Refunds Are Issued Slowly, Minister Calls Him A ‘Sore Loser’

Donald Trump‘s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was set to embark on a series of speaking events in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in July last year. Yet the tour has been plagued by continuous postponements, which has led to frustration among fans who await refunds.

The Down Under tour, which promised to draw large crowds, has faced numerous delays since its initial announcement. It was first rescheduled from July to September, then pushed back again to December and now lacks a confirmed date for the future.

The tour, originally advertised as a “landmark” event, featured former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage and Liberal senator Alex Antic as special guests. General admission tickets for the event ranged from $59 for students or concession holders to $89 for the general public. A high-priced private dinner event, priced at $2500, included a pre-show dinner with Trump Jr., a champagne reception, and front-row seating.

Trump Jr. initially claimed that the tour was delayed due to visa-related issues.

However, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil refuted this and stated on X that Trump Jr. had received a visa like any other applicant and had attempted to blame the government for poor ticket sales. She referred to him as a “sore loser.” A new date for the events has not been established and ticket holders are left struggling to obtain refunds with limited communication from the tour organizer, Turning Point Australia (TPA).

The ongoing postponements have led one disgruntled ticket holder to consider legal action against Trump Jr. and TPA, as they argue for compensation due to financial losses incurred by those who purchased tickets for the tour.

As of March, 70% of the 8,000 tickets purchased for Trump Jr.’s tour have been refunded. Joel Jammal, founder of TPA, acknowledged the issue with refunds and stated that efforts have been made to resolve the situation. The problem stems from one of the credit card processors used in conjunction with Ticketbud, a U.S.-based event management and ticketing company. Jammal indicated that such difficulties are not uncommon for conservative events.

When asked whether Trump Jr. still intends to visit Australia despite the tour’s persistent delays, Jammal mentioned that he is actively campaigning with his father for the upcoming 2024 U.S. election and is currently occupied. Jammal expressed confidence that the tickets would sell again when a firm date for Trump Jr’s attendance is confirmed.

A Change.org petition protesting Trump Jr.’s tour and calling for the government to deny him a visa has garnered 22,806 signatures.

Trump Jr. was in the news recently when he claimed ignorance of basic accounting rules during the Trump Organization’s business fraud trial despite being the company’s chief executive.

He has recently been working on his men’s magazine that covers guns and the outdoor lifestyle.