Donald Trump tells Kevin Rudd 'I don't like you' in White House clash

There are calls for Kevin Rudd to be stripped of his role as Australia’s US Ambassador after Donald Trump ripped into him during a cringe-worthy exchange at the White House. Vote in our poll.

Kevin Rudd is now a “global laughing stock” and his diplomatic career in doubt after a bruising encounter saw Donald Trump fail to recognise him and declare “I don’t like you” to our top man in the United States.

The gaffe threatened to detract from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s successful foray into the White House, where he signed a $13b critical minerals deal and the US President committed to the speedy supply of AUKUS submarines.

The future of Australia’s US Ambassador is under a cloud after he was “humiliated” in a briefing in the White House Cabinet Room during high level talks to secure our national security.

US President Donald Trump said he didn’t know who Kevin Rudd was. Picture: AFP

Even Mr Albanese laughed when Mr Trump did not recognise Mr Rudd after he was asked whether his incendiary previous comments about the President had harmed Australia’s relationship with our closest ally.

The Federal opposition has called on Mr Rudd to be sacked, while Alexander Downer, who was once Australia’s ambassador to the UK, said anyone with “self awareness” would resign.

Mr Rudd became a distraction from positive discussions about Australian defence and mining deals with the United States when Mr Trump was asked about him during a press conference.

He had previously called Mr Trump a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history”.

But he had to pull those social media comments down after Mr Trump won his second term.

Kevin Rudd was seated opposite Donald Trump during the White House visit. Picture: Getty Images

In an awkward exchange, Mr Trump responded by asking if Mr Rudd still had a job, while sitting just across the table from the former Australian PM.

“I don’t know anything about him, if he said bad (things) maybe he’d like to apologise,” Mr Trump said.

Turning to Mr Albanese, Mr Trump asked: “Did the ambassador say something about me … don’t tell me”.

“Where is he, is he still working for you?”

Mr Albanese pointed directly across the table, saying: “He’s there”.

Kevin Rudd leaves after the fiery meeting. Picture: AAP

Mr Rudd tried to raise his hand like a student in high school to get Mr Trump’s attention, but he interrupted him saying: “I don’t like you either and I probably never will”.

The exchange led to a chorus of calls for Mr Rudd to return to Australia.

Mr Downer said: “If the British Prime Minister didn’t know who I was and said he didn’t like me and never will I would think about resigning.

“Anyone with self awareness would consider whether they can still do the job, but knowing Kevin Rudd, I’m sure what his decision will be.”

Mr Downer, who was also a former foreign minister, added: “This was humiliating for Rudd personally, it was picked up by the American television news.”

He said that Mr Rudd had failed to build a relationship with Mr Trump, unlike former US Ambassador Joe Hockey, who “knew Trump and played golf with Trump.”

Kevin Rudd was there to welcome Anthony Albanese when he arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before travelling on to the White House. Picture: X

Michael Kroger, a former Victorian Liberal Party president, said: “Kevin Rudd is now a global laughing stock who has humiliated and embarrassed Australia.

“Presumably, calling Trump a village idiot is not the best resume to be appointed Australia’s ambassador to the United States.

“Even Albanese was laughing.”

Labor was unlikely to immediately sack Mr Rudd, who was appointed in 2023, however his term, which often lasts four years, may not be extended.

US President Donald Trump was very unimpressed with Kevin Rudd. Picture: AFP

Former Labor MP Michael Danby said the incident was embarrassing but added that Mr Trump had a history of forgiving people.

“Kevin Rudd will just have to pray that he falls on the same side as Trump did with Marco Rubio and JD Vance who criticised him,” he said.

“Australia is the unsinkable American aircraft carrier in the pacific, just as it was in the second world war. That’s what’s going to save Kevin Rudd, not his charming personality.”

After the ugly public incident in front of senior members of the Trump administration, the two reportedly ended the meeting on good terms after the ambassador offered up a formal apology for the comments made in 2020 prior to his appointment to Washington.

As the press left the room, Mr Trump asked the Prime Minister: “Is this the guy?”, gesturing toward the ambassador and commenting “he looks like a nice guy”.

Mr Rudd formally apologised to the President and was told “all is forgiven” by a laughing Mr Trump.

President Donald Trumppoints as he appears to take questions from reporters. Picture: AP

Government sources said the two had positive interactions throughout the lengthy closed-door meeting that followed.

It came after Sky News reporter Andrew Clennell asked the President whether the ambassador’s past comments had played a role in the nine-month delay in securing a formal meeting with Mr Albanese.

Members of the Trump administration including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laughed as Mr Rudd squirmed, agreeing he had made comments “before I took this position Mr President”.

Mr Rudd reportedly apologised to Mr Trump after the heated exchange. Picture: AAP

Opposition leader Sussan Ley said Mr Rudd’s position was now “untenable”.

“It’s taken nearly a year to get this meeting, and that’s been a failure of the ambassador,” she said.

“And 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 about the fact that it’s probably not reasonable that he continue in the role.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong dismissed the clash as a “tongue-in-cheek” moment.

“We heard the laughter,” she said.

“We know that we had a very successful meeting. Full credit to ambassador Rudd who has worked so hard.”

United States Congressman Joe Courtney who co-chairs the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus also leapt to the ambassador’s defence.

“The strong support for AUKUS at today’s White House meeting and the new agreement on rare earth minerals are testaments to Ambassador Rudd’s relentless advocacy for the US-Australia alliance,” he said.

“Ambassador Rudd’s work in Washington continues to be a huge benefit to the alliance.”

Originally published as Donald Trump tells Kevin Rudd 'I don't like you' in White House clash