Kevin Rudd declares ’we’re prepared’ for a second Trump presidency, following controversy

Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, has made his first detailed public comments following his scathing comments on Donald Trump. See the video.

Kevin Rudd has broken his silence on Donald Trump’s return to power, with Australia’s ambassador to the US declaring he is ready to work with him despite some of the President-elect’s allies questioning his position.

The former prime minister has been under fire for his criticism of Mr Trump prior to taking on the diplomatic post – including calling him a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West” – in the wake of the Republican’s stunning victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

But he brushed off any concerns in his first public appearance since the election, saying he and his team in Washington DC had been “working hard through the course of the last year to ensure that we were well prepared for this moment”.

“And the bottom line is, we’re ready,” Dr Rudd told the Sydney International Strategy Forum in a prerecorded video.

“The team here at the embassy and the government of Australia are ready to work closely with the new Trump administration to continue to realise the benefits of what is a very strong economic and security partnership.”

Kevin Rudd breaks his silence on the election of Trump at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

The ambassador did not comment on the furore over his attacks on Mr Trump, which was further fuelled by Lara Trump – the former president’s daughter-in-law and the Republican Party co-chair – questioning whether he could remain in his post.

Mr Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino also reposted Dr Rudd’s congratulatory message to the former president on social media with an hourglass, suggesting his time was running out.

But the ambassador used his speech to urge the President-elect to maintain America’s close ties with Australia.

“Different leaders have come to the same conclusion. Our nations are bonded by the values we share, underpinned by the mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and our respective national interests. American leadership remains indispensable,” Dr Rudd said.

“We live in a world of many challenges and we are clear that the region we want, the interests we have, and the values we share require and call for our two nations to work together. And that is what we will continue to do with President Trump and his incoming administration.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised Dr Rudd will remain in his post, with former leaders Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull also supporting him.

Mr Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino also reposted Dr Rudd’s congratulatory message to the former president on social media. Picture: AFP

And while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has not backed calls from some Liberals for the ambassador to resign, he warned Mr Albanese’s “captain’s pick” to appoint the ex-Labor leader had put the government “in a difficult position”.

Dr Rudd only moved to delete his scathing social media posts about Mr Trump in the wake of his election victory.

In his speech at the United States Studies Centre’s forum in Sydney, the ambassador honed in on the benefits of the AUKUS pact to both Australia and the US, as he said the alliance was “critical to Australia’s national security”.

Originally published as Kevin Rudd declares ’we’re prepared’ for a second Trump presidency, following controversy