Dutton to ‘reassess’ Rudd if Coalition wins government

Peter Dutton has again raised questions about Kevin Rudd’s future as Australia’s US envoy as relations with the Trump White House get off to a rocky start.

Peter Dutton says he would “reassess” Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to the US if the Coalition won the upcoming federal election.

Mr Rudd last year weathered questions about his future as Australia’s envoy in Washington because of past criticisms of Donald Trump.

He has the firm backing of Labor, with the Albanese government crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS.

While retired Liberal Party old guard continue to stand by Mr Rudd, the Coalition’s bipartisan support has somewhat loosened in recent months, inviting speculation.

Mr Dutton said in an interview aired on Sunday that his “instinct” was to keep Mr Rudd in the ambassadorship, but that ultimately he would make a judgement call.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he would “reassess” Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to the US if the Coalition won the upcoming federal election. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“If he’s the best person for the job he should stay in the job, but if it turns out he has no access to the White House and no real influence … you would have to reassess his position,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

“If there are insurmountable problems that he has, or the administration has with him, then that would make it difficult.”

The Australia-US relationship has come under a microscope after the US President slapped blanket brutal tariffs on steel and aluminium imports “without exemptions or exceptions”.

The Albanese government has credited Mr Rudd with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

He did so shortly after giving Anthony Albanese assurances a carve out for Australia was “under consideration”.

As ambassador, Mr Rudd is right at the centre of negotiating an exemption for Australian smelters.

Over the years, he has called the US President a “village idiot”, “nuts”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

US President Donald Trump has called Australia’s ambassador Kevin Rudd ‘nasty’. Picture: NewsWire / Jim Watson / POOL / AFP

“If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” Mr Trump said in an interview last year.

A top Trump aide also suggested Mr Rudd’s time was running out, publicly sending him GIF of an hourglass on social media shortly after the US election.

Though, Mr Trump is no stranger to criticism, with his vice president JD Vance once likening him to Adolf Hitler.

Originally published as Dutton to ‘reassess’ Rudd if Coalition wins government