Television personality Karl Stefanovic drew considerable attention upon arriving at Sydney Airport on Monday, sporting a red cap emblazoned with "Make Rodeo Great Again" and an Australian flag, a style reminiscent of Donald Trump's signature headwear.
Stefanovic, accompanied by his wife Jasmine and daughter Harper, opted for a subdued outfit of a black zip-up jacket, t-shirt, and blue jeans, allowing the striking cap to be the focal point of his appearance.
The sighting followed a weekend where Stefanovic shared a photograph of himself with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at the Mount Isa Rodeo in Queensland. Stefanovic's caption, "Luckiest girls in the world," tagged Hanson, his wife, and the event.
The social media post generated a polarized response from followers. Some expressed strong disapproval, with comments ranging from "No way, not Pauline! Karl what have you done?!" to "Grifters convention" and "Where's the vomit button??"
Conversely, other users praised the gathering, with one supporter stating, "This is what Australia needs!!!" Another comment suggested, "Karl for Prime Minister leading the One Nation party! My dreams coming true!!!"
Hanson had previously offered Stefanovic a position within her office, suggesting he could serve as an advisor. This offer came after Stefanovic's interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast, "The Karl Stefanovic Show." The interview, which discussed Islam, immigration, and Australian politics, was uploaded to YouTube and subsequently removed by Stefanovic less than 12 hours later due to widespread backlash.
Hanson publicly defended Stefanovic, reposting the deleted interview on her own YouTube channel and criticizing Channel Nine's decision to part ways with the television host. She claimed Nine would be "bloody stupid" to fire Stefanovic and suggested the network had shifted too far to the political left.
Stefanovic departed Channel Nine in June, following the controversial Robinson interview, despite having six months remaining on his contract. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the decision was partly made to "defuse a major advertiser boycott."