Kevin Rudd’s Republican mates go quiet after Donald Trump’s hit
The two Republicans who lead the Friends of Australia caucus have not responded to requests for comment since Donald Trump’s comments went public.
The congressional Republicans most likely to come to Kevin Rudd’s defence after he endured sharp criticism from Donald Trump have remained strangely silent.
The two Republicans who lead the Friends of Australia caucus – Mike Gallagher and Senator Dan Sullivan – have not responded to requests for comment over 24 hours since Mr Trump’s comments became public.
The former president described Mr Rudd as “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb” after Nigel Farage brought up the ambassador’s past criticism of Mr Trump.
Similarly, Republican Senator Roger Wicker, whom Mr Rudd worked closely with to ensure critical AUKUS legislation passed congress last year, has also declined to comment via his staff.
The office of Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the influential House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, also didn’t respond.
Mr Rudd declined interviews with Australian media on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) instead tweeting a picture of himself with Congressman Gallagher outside congressional office buildings.
“Huge week in Congress. House passed legislation on TikTok on 3/13 and voted unanimously to support the digital privacy bill,” Mr Rudd said, suggesting the picture was taken last week.
“Amid all this, I caught up with @repgallagher.”
Anthony Albanese appointed Mr Rudd to the post in December 2022, weeks after Mr Trump launched his re-election bid, despite the ex-Labor prime minister’s criticism of Mr Trump in the past as “nuts”, a “traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history”.
Mr Albanese responded furiously in parliament on Wednesday when manager of opposition business Paul Fletcher asked if he would reassess Mr Rudd’s position given Mr Trump’s comments.
Mr Albanese accused the opposition of “cheap politics” and attempting to “politicise Australia’s representative in Washington DC”.
“(This is) something that was never done by this side of the chamber when Arthur Sinodinos occupied that position, when Joe Hockey occupied that position, and when other representatives, including Alexander Downer, George Brandis and others (served as) high commissioner to the United Kingdom,” Mr Albanese said.
On Thursday Peter Dutton calledon Mr Rudd to repair the relationship with Donald Trump and those around him, arguing Anthony Albanese’s decision to appoint the former Labor prime minister would have been done “against the advice of a lot of his colleagues”.
The Opposition Leader said there was a good chance Mr Rudd would have to step down.
“You’ve got an administration that says it cant work with a particular ambassador, there’s a long history of those people being recalled,” he said.
“I wish Mr Rudd well and that he does good work in our countries name. But... Anthony (Albanese) knew all risks he was facing when he decided to appoint Kevin (Rudd),” he said.
“The onus is on Mr Rudd now to repair the relationship.”
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