The Australian opposition has called for for Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd to be recalled following an exchange with President Donald Trump.
It involved one awkward moment in an otherwise positive meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the president.
Albanese and Rudd were caught in a discussion about previous comments the ambassador had made about Trump.
In 2020, had described Trump as the “most destructive president” in U.S. history.
He deleted them in November 2024 after Trump won the election, but they resurfaced to become the centre of a joke at the White House.
Trump was asked if he was concerned about Australia’s stance on climate change, Palestine, and Rudd’s past comments.
Trump then turned to a smiling Albanese and asked, “Did an ambassador say something bad about me? Don’t tell me, where is he? Is he still working for you?”
Albanese responded affirmatively and gestured over to Rudd, who was sitting at the opposite side of the table.
Trump then turned to Rudd and said, “You said bad?” to which Rudd admitted, “Before I took this role Mr. President.”
Trump then quipped, “I don’t like you either. I don’t, and I probably never will.”
‘Regrettable’: Shadow Foreign Minister
Shadow Foreign Minister Michalia Cash described the moment in Washington as “regrettable.”She raised concerns that confidence in the role could now suffer.
“When the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the prime minister is actually laughing at him, I think that tells us all we need to know,” Ley said.
“To see the prime minister actually laughing at his own ambassador in the room when the president made a joke—I think it’s untenable.”
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonathon Dunium questioned why an apology was not offered sooner and suggested that Rudd should be let go from the position.
“I don’t think he can stay on, that’s my view anyway.”
