Julia Gillard awkwardly praises Kevin Rudd, says Donald Trump’s return ‘grounds for concern’

The former Aussie PM has spoken about her concerns of Donald Trump’s election victory, while praising her political arch enemy Kevin Rudd in his role as US ambassador. Watch video.

Exclusive: Former prime minister Julia Gillard has awkwardly praised her longtime political foe Kevin Rudd as Australia’s US ambassador despite his repeated public attacks on social media about Donald Trump.

Speaking at London’s Imperial College on Thursday night (Friday AEDT) about issues including climate change, global health and politics, Ms Gillard said following Mr Trump’s victory there are “already grounds for concern” about global health.

News Corp attended the event and asked Ms Gillard if Mr Rudd’s labelling of the US president-elect as “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the west” had put his position as US ambassador in jeopardy.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Imperial College in London.

She initially avoided the question and the moderator of the event, Jeremy Laurance, intervened and said to her, “do you want to take (that question) … I don’t think you feel compelled”.

Ms Gillard laughed it off before failing to answer and then minutes opting to return to the question.

“Just from an abundance of caution in terms of the Australian news cycle, let me just say Australia picks its ambassadors to the US, it’s picked Kevin Rudd who is doing a very good job for our country in the United States,” she said.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Imperial College in London with communications consultant, Institute of Global Health Innovation Jeremy Laurance. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

Mr Rudd scrubbed the inflammatory tweets he had previously made on his private social media account on platform X since the Republican candidate’s election victory.

One of the controversial tweets was in 2020 from Mr Rudd’s account, @MrKrudd, attacking Mr Trump.

“The most destructive president in history,” he posted.

“He drags America and democracy through the mud.

“He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence.”

Ms Gillard gave a keynote speech at Imperial College and also spoke about her concerns of Mr Trump’s election victory.

“We have to work with the people who have been elected, those in power, those with the most influential voices in the public discourse,” she said.

Kevin Rudd’s role as US ambassador is under scrutiny following Donald Trump’s election victory.

“If we don’t try to engage we have already failed.

“After inauguration in January, next year, President Trump will be back at the centre of geopolitics and from decisions and statements already reported there are grounds to be concerned about the global architecture for health.

“We will need a change of rhetoric to talk less about people’s health and more about national health security, protecting the public, getting value for money, to talk more about the geopolitical loss of status and influence.”

After the US election Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Rudd would remain as Australia’s ambassador to the US.

“He’s Australia’s appointment,” he said.

“And it says something about the importance of the United States that we have appointed a former prime minister.”