Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd meets US President-elect Donald Trump

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has met Donald Trump – the first one-on-one engagement between the pair since the former prime minister accepted the post almost two years ago.

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd met Donald Trump last weekend in a bid to build a positive relationship with the President-elect, after his allies suggested he may not last in the top diplomatic post.

It is understood the brief meeting – the first one-on-one engagement between the pair since the former prime minister became Australia’s ambassador almost two years ago – took place at Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In what was believed to be a positive and normal exchange, Dr Rudd conveyed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s good wishes and said he and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were looking forward to attending his inauguration in Washington DC next week.

Mr Albanese earlier revealed Dr Rudd had “direct contact” with Mr Trump during the transition after he won November’s presidential election in a stunning political comeback.

“That is a good thing that that has occurred,” the Prime Minister told the ABC of the talks.

“That has been very positive.”

Avid golfer Donald Trump has met Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd at the US President-elect’s international golf course in West Palm Beach. Picture: Timothy A Clary / AFP

During last year’s election campaign, Mr Trump fired an extraordinary broadside at Dr Rudd, saying he had heard he was “a little bit nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

The former president had been asked in an interview about the ex-Labor leader’s attacks on him prior to his appointment as the ambassador, including calling Mr Trump “nuts”, “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the West”.

“If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” Mr Trump told GB News.

In the wake of his election victory, several of Mr Trump’s allies including his daughter-in-law Lara questioned Dr Rudd’s future as Australia’s representative in Washington DC.

Kevin Rudd has been publicly critical of Donald Trump in the past.

And after the ambassador deleted the offending social media posts, Mr Trump’s deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino teasingly posted an image of an hourglass.

Dr Rudd has since kept a low profile, refusing to publicly engage with questions about his job security as the Albanese government defended his ability to work with Mr Trump’s team.

On Friday, Mr Albanese praised his efforts, saying he had “worked very hard to develop relationships with the incoming administration”.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (pictured in Kyiv in December) will accompany Kevin Rudd at Mr Trump’s inauguration.

The ambassador met prior to the election with Mr Trump’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“That’s how you do diplomacy and that’s how you get results,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’m very confident that Australia is showing the importance we place in the United States relationship by having a former prime minister as our ambassador.”

The Prime Minister has faced some criticism for not proactively seeking his own meeting with Mr Trump like other foreign leaders, with their first face-to-face talks potentially months away given the impending federal election.

In the aftermath of Mr Trump’s victory, he told Mr Albanese in a call that they would have a “perfect friendship”.

Originally published as Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd meets US President-elect Donald Trump