Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has been forced to delete tweets blasting Donald Trump’s eldest son as a “sore loser” and a “big baby”.

Ms O’Neil’s blast for Donald Trump jnr came amid complaints he had to cancel a speaking tour because of visa problems.

The former US president’s son had been scheduled to speak in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane next week as part of his “Trump Live” tour.

But on Wednesday the organisers, Turning Point Australia, said in a statement they had been forced to postpone the visit due to delays with his visa.

“The visa, which has now been issued, was only received late afternoon of Wednesday 5th July, only 24 hours before Donald Trump Jr was set to board a flight to Sydney,” the statement said.

The organisers said 8000 tickets had already been sold across the three capital cities, with all VIP tickets priced as a high as $2500 selling out in the first week of the tour announcement.

A petition to deny Mr Trump an Australian visa, describing him as a “bigoted person who should not be allowed to enter Australia” has been circulating online. It had more than 22,000 signatures by Thursday afternoon.

Ms O’Neil, who earlier said there was no immigration impediment to Mr Trump Jr coming to Australia, hit back on Thursday at claims there had been problems with his visa.

“Geez, Donald Trump Jr is a bit of a sore loser. His dad lost an election fair and square – but he says it was stolen,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Now he’s trying to blame the Australian government for his poor ticket sales and cancelled tour.”

Ms O’Neil said a visa for Mr Trump to come to Australia had been approved.

“He didn’t get cancelled,” she wrote. “He’s just a big baby, who isn’t very popular.”

However, within a matter of hours the posts had been deleted. The Australian reported they had been removed on the order of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Turning Point Australia had told disappointed fans of Mr Trump to hold on to their tickets to his speaking tour “with details of the rescheduled date to be confirmed in the coming days”. They are yet to make any further announcements.

Earlier, Turning Point Australia’s website said Mr Trump Jr’s “fearlessly outspoken, anti-politically correct stance has captured the imagination of conservatives from around the world”.

South Australian Liberal Senator Alex Antic, who was to MC the speaking tour, was quoted in the tour organisers’ statement saying he was disappointed but not surprised by the tour postponement.

“I’m looking forward to the show getting new dates. Aussies want to hear from conservative warriors like these guys,” he said.

-with AAP