Donald Trump has criticised the former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, calling him “nasty” and suggesting he “won’t be there long” as Australia’s ambassador to the United States. The Republican presidential nominee made the remarks in an interview with Nigel Farage on GB News.
When asked about Rudd’s past criticisms, Trump said: “I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb.” Rudd, before his appointment as ambassador in March 2023, had described Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the West” in social media posts.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the government would retain Rudd as ambassador if Trump wins the November election, stating he was doing “an excellent job”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused the opposition of a “cheap shot” over the comments, while opposition leader Peter Dutton said the government needed to “repair” the US relationship.
Since becoming ambassador, Rudd has adopted a more conciliatory tone, saying he had “worked comfortably and seamlessly” with senior Republicans. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment further, with a spokesperson stating only that “Kevin Rudd is doing a good job as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States.”
