US election: Why Kevin Rudd must go if Donald Trump wins

Senior diplomatic sources have revealed who would need to replace Kevin Rudd as the ambassador to the US if Donald Trump wins the US election.

Australia must replace Kevin Rudd with Tony Abbott or Joe Hockey as ambassador to the US if Donald Trump wins the election next week, senior diplomatic sources say. Picture: Noah Willman

Australia must replace Kevin Rudd with Tony Abbott or Joe Hockey as ambassador to the US if Donald Trump wins the election next week, senior diplomatic sources say.

A second Trump term would up-end the Federal Labor Government’s relationship with Washington, they say, with Mr Rudd having called the former president a “traitor to the west”.

“Joe Hockey gets on famously with Trump but he’s making a lot of money with Bondi partners, he may not want to do a second act,” a well placed diplomatic source said.

“But one person who would be perfect, and could be persuaded, is Tony Abbott.”

Mr Trump called Kevin Rudd “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb” during an interview with British political figure Nigel Farage in March.

He also said Mr Rudd would “not last long” if he was re-elected.

Kevin Rudd could be replaced by Tony Abbott or Joe Hockey as Ambassador of Australia to the United States, if Donald Trump is made President again. Picture: Noah Willman

Under a section of the public service act, all ambassadors are appointed on a “non-continuous basis” meaning they can be called back at any time.

The behind-the-scenes push to install Mr Hockey or Mr Abbott comes as Australia’s relations with the White House were expected to come under considerable strain if Mr Trump was elected.

Mr Rudd started the role as US Ambassador in March last year, during President Biden’s term.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Former Treasurer and former Australia Ambassador to the USA Joe Hockey. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

He remains well respected in Washington’s foreign policy establishment because of his knowledge of China.

The Australian Embassy’s website describes Mr Rudd “as a leading analyst of China.”

The Mandarin-speaking former Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister released a book this month critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

That was seen as a way of shoring up his role in Washington if Mr Trump did nudge out Vice President Kamala Harris.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described Mr Rudd as doing an “excellent job” but his future may be under a cloud if Labor loses the next Federal election, which was likely to be in May next year.

Mr Rudd had written in June 2020 on his X page that Mr Trump was “the most destructive president in history. He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division.”

In another tweet in February 2022, he wrote: “Donald Trump is a traitor to the West.”

But he tempered his comments in July this year, saying if Trump was elected, “we’re not going over some chasm”.

“For us in Australia and allies of the United States, this is a perfectly navigable and manageable set of relationships for the next four years,” he said.

Mr Abbott said he had not been approached about the US Ambassador’s role.

“Kevin Rudd is doing a good job,” he said.