Kevin Rudd holidaying in Queensland before Donald Trump inauguration

While Scott Morrison spent NYE at Mar-a-Lago, Australia’s ambassador to the US has been taking videos and pictures of lorikeets, cats and himself watching the cricket back in Australia.

Kevin Rudd posting on social media his Queensland holiday before president-elect Trump's inauguration

Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, has been holidaying in Queensland just weeks before US president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Despite fellow former prime minister Scott Morrison scoring a ticket to Mr Trump’s New Year’s Eve party, Mr Rudd has been taking videos and pictures of lorikeets, cats and himself watching the cricket back in Australia.

In a social media post on Sunday, Mr Rudd showed off his crocs while watching the cricket.

“It doesn’t get much better than this,” he said. “Fantastic cricket. Fantastic result (3-1 to Australia). And a fantastic contribution from the Australian quick Scott Boland.”

In a similar post the week prior, Mr Rudd said, “Summer bliss. Crocs. Cricket. And a nice cold drink. Stunning watching the Australian bowlers in action against India.”

The Mar-a-Lago party had a guest list chock full of influential figures for the incoming term: Elon Musk, Senator Ted Cruz, vice-president elect JD Vance, boxing promoter Don King, Donald Trump Jr and, of course, Mr Morrison.

Mr Rudd’s absence from the event again raises questions over the feasibility of his relationship with Mr Trump after past criticisms of the US leader were quietly deleted from social media.

They included a 2020 tweet from his personal account, @MrKrudd, disparaging the former president. “The most destructive president in history,” he said at the time.

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

“All aided and abetted by Murdoch’s FoxNews Network in America which feeds this.”

DFAT deputy secretary Elly Lawson said that the decision to remove the posts was done “to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador” and was “out of respect for the office of President of the United States”.

Mr Rudd downplayed the questions over the tenability of his position as ambassador following the election of Mr Trump, telling the United States Studies Centre’s International Strategic Forum in Sydney that “the interests we have and the values we share require and call for our two nations to work together, and that is what we’ll continue to do with President Trump and his incoming administration”.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny posing with US president-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania at the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago. Picture: Scott Morrison

“Here at the embassy, we’ve 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,’ he said.

“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.”

As an ambassador, Mr Rudd is entitled to four weeks of annual leave and The Australian understands he will return to the US on January 8 after a fortnight off.

“Ambassador Rudd works tirelessly to advance Australia’s interests,” a DFAT spokesman said.

“In line with DFAT employee entitlements and policies, he took a brief break to spend time with his family.”

Mr Trump’s second presidential inauguration is scheduled to take place in Washington on Monday, January 20.