Trump staffer delivers ominous warning to Kevin Rudd

One of Donald Trump’s senior advisers has implied that Kevin Rudd’s role as Australia’s Ambassador to the US could be under threat after another staffer issues a stern warning.

One of Donald Trump’s senior advisers has delivered an ominous warning to Kevin Rudd, implying that the Australian Ambassador’s role could be under threat and his time in Washington DC may be running out.

Dan Scavino Jr, a longstanding Trump aide who is one of the President-elect’s most senior campaign advisers, issued a scathing response to Dr Rudd’s previous message congratulating Mr Trump on his election victory.

In his post on X, the Trump aide posted an hourglass GIF alongside Dr Rudd’s statement, suggesting that the former PM’s days in his role as Australia’s ambassador to the US might be numbered.

Dan Scavino Jnr posted this image of an hourglass in a pointed message to Kevin Rudd. Picture: X

It came after Sky News uncovered footage in which the former prime minister called the President-elect a “village idiot” and “incoherent”, while another leading figure in Mr Trump’s former administration delivered a bold call.

“Donald Trump doesn’t forget these comments,” former Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer told Andrew Bolt on Sky News.

Dan Scavino Jr has made his feelings towards Kevin Rudd clear. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Mr Spicer drew a parallel between Dr Rudd’s remarks and Mr Trump’s move to deny Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo roles in his new administration.

“You saw how he kind of thanked Ambassador Haley and Secretary Pompeo for their previous service and said they will not be utilised in this next administration,” Mr Spicer told Sky News.

“It’s just a further sign that Donald Trump may say the polite things to you in public, but he will not forget.”

Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has commented on the Kevin Rudd debacle. Picture: Getty Images for Planet Hollywood International

‘AUSTRALIA FIRST’: DUTTON REACTS

Earlier, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton questioned whether Dr Rudd could form a “good relationship” with the incoming Trump administration.

When asked on ABC Radio on Wednesday if Dr Rudd would remain in his role under a Coalition government, Mr Dutton said it was important that Mr Rudd “worked under our country’s name”.

“We’ve supported Kevin Rudd and we’ve made public commentary before about our support of the ambassador,” he said.

“It’s important that he does work under our country’s name. He’s been a very effective contributor to public debate, particularly as a former prime minister, he’s well-respected and I hope that he’s able to form a good relationship with the new administration as he has done with the current one.

“Comments by Anthony Albanese or Penny Wong or whoever it might be, that’s an issue for the prime minister to deal with.

Australia's US Ambassador Kevin Rudd calling President-elect Donald Trump a "village idiot" and "incoherent" in a series of video's unearthed on Sky News.

“My responsibility, my objective is to make sure that we put Australia first and that we get the best possible outcome for our country and we can do that if we’ve got a good relationship between the ambassador, our highest ranked official in the United States, or whatever country it might be, and the government.

Mr Dutton would not be drawn on whether the Opposition would prefer former prime minister Scott Morrison in the role of Australia’s Ambassador to the US.

“Kevin Rudd has that role, he has a term to finish and then following that term that’s an issue for the government of the day to decide,” he told ABC Radio.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Linda Higginson

Mr Dutton had questioned Dr Rudd’s tenability on Tuesday, casting doubt about Dr Rudd’s ability to forge a “working relationship” with the Trump administration.

CALLS FOR RUDD TO RESIGN

It comes after Dr Rudd was told to follow the lead of a British Ambassador to Washington who quit three days after leaked cables revealed his criticisms of Mr Trump.

Australia’s Ambassador to the United States has become an increasing distraction for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as newly surfaced videos emerged of Dr Rudd labelling Mr Trump a “village idiot” who was “in love with dictators”.

Mr Albanese was forced to defend Dr Rudd for the second time in less than a week, saying “yes” when asked if he was the best person for the Ambassador’s role.

Kevin Rudd at his residence in Washington DC. Picture: Twitter

But Mr Albanese walked away from a press conference in Tasmania before reporters could ask him for more details.

It comes as Dr Rudd attempted to engage Scott Morrison’s help in forging relationships with the Trump administration.

Sky News Australia’s Sharri Markson said, “In a recognition that Rudd will struggle to build bridges with President Trump on his own, he has been cultivating his relationship with Scott Morrison over many months, even launching his book in the United States in May.

“Multiple sources have told me that Rudd has been asking Morrison’s assistance in dealing with the Trump team.”

“My understanding is that Morrison won’t give up his new business ventures and is unlikely to accept any formal role as a special envoy that would mean representing the Albanese Government,” Markson continued.

“But he will help Rudd informally with ties to the Trump Administration, particularly when it relates to AUKUS and Australia’s national interest.”

Mr Morrison has acted as an “informal ambassador” to Trump, Markson said.

Dr Rudd made world headlines last week, including in the New York Times, when he deleted tweets that called Mr Trump the “worst president in history”.

Now, Dr Rudd has been urged to fall on his sword in the same way that Kim Darroch, the British Ambassador to Washington did in 2019 after hundreds of his private memos were leaked to the media.

Sir Kim had called Mr Trump “dysfunctional” and “inept” but had also warned his bosses in London: “Don’t write him off”.

Mr Trump slammed Sir Kim as a “pompous fool” after the memos were splashed on the front pages of British newspapers.

“The wacky Ambassador that the UK foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Mr Trump said in 2019.

A day later, Sir Kim resigned even though his memos had meant to be only for the eyes of Whitehall officials in London.

Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said it would be difficult for Mr Albanese to remove Dr Rudd, who Mr Trump had called “nasty” in an interview earlier this year.

However, Mr Downer said there had been a precedent for an Ambassador walking away after criticising Mr Trump.

“Kim Darroch, the British Ambassador to the United States had made comments about Mr Trump and he had to be called back to London,” he said.

“It just put the British in a difficult position,” Mr Downer, who was Australia’s Ambassador to the UK between 2014 and 2018, said.

Three videos of Dr Rudd, recorded in 2021 and 2022, emerged on Sky News on Monday night.

Dr Rudd labelled the United States “increasingly incompetent in its national statecraft under Trump” in a 2021 video.

And he mocked Mr Trump in another video recorded that year, saying he was writing a new book on US relations with the “subtitle … a call for a new tremendous piece of very big beautiful Mar-a-Lago chocolate cake.”

Dr Rudd also labelled Mr Trump “incoherent” and “in love with dictators” in a 2022 clip.

Kim Darroch resigned after criticising Mr Trump, even though his memos had meant to be only for the eyes of Whitehall officials in London. Picture: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Liberal Party powerbroker Michael Kroger said: “Sharri Markson’s expose of Kevin Rudd has been immensely damaging for the Ambassador and for Australia’s interests. Mr Rudd needs to resign his commission before January 20.”

Mr Kroger added that the Ambassador role in Washington was critical given threats of a tariff war, potential changes to the strategy on the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Israel and the wider Middle East region.

He said Dr Rudd would also have to shepherd through AUKUS, a $368 billion nuclear submarine deal.

Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy said the “point scoring” over Dr Rudd’s comments had to stop because it was harming Australia’s national interests.

He said former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Joe Hockey had backed Dr Rudd to continue his role.

Dr Rudd was approached for comment, with his office in Washington directing questions to DFAT in Canberra.

He did not respond before deadline but congratulated Mr Trump in a social media post last week.

“Australia looks forward to working closely with President Trump and his Administration,” Dr Rudd said.