Joe Hockey backs Kevin Rudd as US ambassador, says people should ‘move on’ from criticism

Australia’s ambassador to the US has received a tick of approval from an unexpected ally who called on Australia to “move on” from the criticism.

Australia’s former US ambassador Joe Hockey has backed Kevin Rudd to continue his posting as Australia’s current ambassador despite backlash stemming from Mr Rudd’s past critique of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Speaking on Sunrise, the former Liberal treasurer said he believed Mr Rudd was “inherently a good man” and had performed well in the role and called on people to “move on” from the criticism.

“He’s been working really hard for Australia here in Washington, DC,” Mr Hockey said.

“I don’t think President Trump or any of his team (are) in a position to say they won’t work with our ambassador. I think it’s really important they do.”

Joe Hockey backed Kevin Rudd to continue his role as Australia’s ambassador to the US. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Mr Hockey also said Mr Rudd had Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “trust and confidence”, which was a critical aspect of the role.

“An ambassador and a prime minister need to be hand in glove, particularly given that we’re in very different time zones … Kevin Rudd has been working at it,” Mr Hockey said.

“It’s been a source of so much talk and conjecture in Australia, let’s all move on.

“Let’s just make it work and whether you Liberal or Labor, Green or Pauline Hanson, whatever you are, we’ve got to be all Team Australia.”

On Wednesday, it was revealed Mr Rudd had scrambled to delete a 2020 tweet in which he labelled Mr Trump as “the most destructive president in history” after his second presidential win was confirmed.

Mr Hockey held the US posting between 2016 and 2020. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

The post was made prior to the former prime minister’s appointment as the US ambassador in March 2023.

Later, Mr Rudd’s office confirmed the remarks had been scrubbed “out of respect for the office of president of the United States”.

“This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian government,” it said.

“Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance.”

Mr Hockey also praised Mr Albanese for contacting Mr Trump within 24 hours of his election victory.

“I’m particularly pleased that Anthony Albanese rang President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him,” he said.

“Seventy world leaders have spoken to Donald Trump over the last 72 hours. It’s great that Anthony Albanese was in there.

“We’ve just got to keep building a relationship with him and the people that are around him.”

Originally published as Joe Hockey backs Kevin Rudd as US ambassador, says people should ‘move on’ from criticism