US Presidential Election 2024: Kevin Rudd turns on charm offensive as Trump groundswell soars

He was dubbed “a little bit nasty” by Trump, but former Aussie PM and current Ambassador to US Kevin Rudd has changed his tune.

Kevin Rudd has been described as “a little bit nasty” by former US President Donald Trump but the expectation he’s set to return to the White House has the former PM dishing out buckets of “nice” from the sidelines of the Republican National Convention.

Despite previously describing Trump as “the most destructive president in history,” a new charm offensive is underway as the Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd lays it on thick as expectations rise of a return to the White House.

During an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia, he’s declared Trump’s policy platform was “sharper and clearer” than his first term he also praised his experience as a world leader.

Kevin Rudd at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Picture: Benedict Brook / news.com.au

“On the policy lines it is sharper and clearer than it was last time round,” Mr Rudd said.

“What I think is different is the aggregation of individuals who would fill the key cabinet and advisory positions. Who now approach this with four years of experience under their belt – that therefore makes it a more determined policy push.

“The bottom line is you see greater discipline in the Trump campaign than you did back then.”

It’s a wild turn around from just a year ago when, before taking the position of US ambassador, Mr Rudd wrote on X, that Trump “drags America and democracy through the mud”.

“The most destructive president in history,” Mr Rudd wrote.

“He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence.”

That prompted Trump to return fire in an interview with British politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage in March where he described Mr Rudd as “a little bit nasty”.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands with Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance on the second day of the Republican National Convention. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America.

He suggested Mr Rudd might need to pack his bags as ambassador if Trump wins the election.

“He won’t be there long if that’s the case,” Trump warned.

“I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty.

“I hear he’s not the brightest bulb, but I don’t know much about him. If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long.”

Mr Rudd and Mr Hockey reflected during the Sky News interview on the Republican’s plan to abolish tax on tips, which many millions of American workers rely on to supplement their income.

“I can’t remember the exact number but it’s something like 50, 60, 70 million Americans depend on tips to lift their income to an acceptable level,” Mr Rudd said.

“And so, this to me shows everything about the political touch of Donald J Trump which is what is actually going to punch through to a group of folks that won’t vote or vote the other way. And he went straight for their hip-pocket.”

Malcolm Turnbull mocked over “most unpleasant call.”

Despite his own patchy history with Trump, Kevin Rudd joked about Malcolm Turnbull’s infamous phone call with Donald Trump during his time as Prime Minister in 2017.

The heated exchange was over a refugee-swap deal that the Obama administration had made with Australia and was later described by Trump as a “dumb deal!”.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had his own awkward phone call with Donald Trump in 2017. Picture: Kym Smith

The heated call began with a discussion of Greg Norman before Trump complained Australia wanted to use the US as a “dumping ground” for refugees.

“Geez that is a big ask,” Trump said according to a leaked transcript.

“This is gong to kill me.”

Mr Trump also complained it was a “rotten deal” a drama that played out when Joe Hockey was the ambassador to the US.

“It will go better than Malcolm’s,” Mr Rudd remarked.

“I hope so,” Mr Hockey replied.

Mr Rudd also revealed that Donald Trump was emotionally moved by outpouring of support following assassination attempt

“When Donald Trump came in here last night, I was here with Therese, you could see on his face that he had been affected by the events on Saturday,” he told Mr Hockey.

“This was not the normal fist-pumping Donald Trump, this was a more reflective Donald Trump.”

“He’s actually been moved by the event itself and of course the outpouring of national and international opinion in his support of him,” Mr Rudd said.