Penny Wong to represent Australia at Donald Trump’s second inauguration alongside Kevin Rudd

Foreign Minister Penny Wong – Anthony Albanese’s closest confidant – will use the visit to expand co-operation with Donald Trump’s second administration on economics and security.

Penny Wong will attend Donald Trump's inauguration. Picture: AFP/AP

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will represent the nation at US president-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration in Washington, with Anthony Albanese’s closest confidant to use the visit to expand co-operation with Mr Trump’s second administration on economics and security.

After concerns the Albanese government has not moved as fast as other allied countries like Britain, France and Italy to forge a relationship with Mr Trump, Senator Wong will go to the president-elect’s swearing in on January 21 with Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd.

Senator Wong on Sunday said she was honoured to be invited by Mr Trump’s inauguration committee to the event, and that she would use it to meet with senior members of the incoming Trump cabinet.

The Foreign Minister has previously told ABC radio in 2021 - before Labor returned to power - that Mr Trump had been prepared to trash alliances for “personal political interest.”

She will also meet with senior congressmen, after a bipartisan alliance in the US House of Representatives declared the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal would only get stronger over the next four years.

The Australian also understands there are discussions about setting up a Quad foreign ministers meeting in the same week as the inauguration, allowing incoming US secretary of state Marco Rubio a chance to discuss China and security with Senator Wong and the Indian and Japanese foreign ministers.

“(The invitation) is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States,” Senator Wong said in a statement.

“I am also looking forward to meeting with members of the Trump Administration and Congress during my visit to Washington.

“The United States is Australia’s vital ally, closest global partner, and most important strategic relationship.

“This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our co-operation.”

The Washington trip comes after the Prime Minister this week told The Australian he would be the best Australian leader with Mr Trump given his extensive contacts through the Asia-Pacific.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Photo: Jacquelin Magnay

Peter Dutton hit back at Mr Albanese’s claim, saying his 2017 comments that Mr Trump at the start of his first term scared “the shit out of” him and the lack of a pre-inauguration meeting would count against Labor’s attempt to bond with the incoming Republican.

French President Emmanuel Macron invited Mr Trump last month to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian leader Georgia Meloni have both had one-on-one sit downs with the president-elect.

Mr Albanese has dismissed the need to meet with Mr Trump before his swearing in, and last week said his phone conversation with Mr Trump after his election victory left him optimistic about the future of the US-Australia relationship.

Mr Rudd’s attendance at the inauguration comes after criticism that he took a holiday in Queensland over Christmas, as Trump officials back in Washington start preparing for power.

The ambassador and former prime minister has met in recent months with a slew of incoming GOP officials including Mr Rubio, Mr Trump’s new national security adviser Mike Waltz and incoming CIA director John Ratcliffe.

But it was former prime minister Scott Morrison – who served as Australia’s leader at the time of Mr Trump’s first term – who attended the president-elect’s New Years party at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida.