Penny Wong vows to keep Kevin Rudd in Washington if Donald Trump is re-elected

The PM vows to keep Kevin Rudd in Washington after Donald Trump suggested he wouldn’t be welcome as ambassador under a second Trump presidency.

Donald Trump has blasted Australia's US ambassador Kevin Rudd, labelling him 'a little bit nasty' and 'not the brightest bulb'.

Anthony Albanese has thrown his full support behind Kevin Rudd to remain ambassador to the US if Donald Trump returns to office, after the former president warned Australia’s envoy was “a little bit nasty” and might not last in the post if he beat Joe Biden in November.

In an interview with Nigel Farage on GB News, aired in Australia by Sky News, the presumptive Republican nominee said he had heard Mr Rudd was “not the brightest bulb” and “if he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long”.

The Prime Minister 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 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.

He pointed out Peter Dutton had backed the appointment and confirmed he could work with Mr Rudd if the Coalition won the next election. But the Opposition Leader said the situation had changed, given Mr Trump’s “very serious comments”.

“They need to be answered, and Mr Rudd needs to repair the relationship,” Mr Dutton said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong also endorsed Mr Rudd’s ongoing presence in Washington DC, delivering an unequivocal “yes” when asked on Wednesday whether the government would keep him as ambassador in the event of a Trump victory.

“Mr Rudd is a very effective ambassador. He’s recognised as doing – across this parliament – an excellent job in advancing Australia’s interests in the United States,” Senator Wong said.

“I point you in particular to the phenomenal amount of work being done on AUKUS in the period that he has been ambassador.

“He has been active in engaging with members of congress on both sides of politics and he is a former prime minister, former foreign minister, is experienced … (which) means he will be able to work closely with whoever is elected by the American people.”

Referencing the AUKUS defence pact in the interview, Mr Farage, the former Brexit Party leader, told Mr Trump: “Things have changed in Australia, we’ve got a Labor government. The previous ambassador, Joe Hockey, I think was quite a good friend of yours … Now they’ve appointed Kevin Rudd. He’s said the most horrible things, (saying) you were a destructive president, a traitor to the West.”

Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese, with US President, Joe Biden. Source – Twitter

Mr Trump said: “I don’t know. He won’t be there long if that’s the case. I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb. But I don’t know much about him. But if he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long.”

Presidents rarely terminate the commission of foreign ambassadors, who are selected by foreign governments, but they can choose not to meet or communicate with certain diplomats, which would make life difficult for the diplomatic mission in question.

Democratic Party congressman Joe Courtney, a champion of the AUKUS security pact who deals regularly with Mr Rudd, came out swinging in the ambassador’s defence.

'If he's at all hostile, he will not be there long.'

Nigel Farage asks Donald Trump about the appointment of Kevin Rudd to Ambassador of Australia to the United States.

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“The ambassador’s term in DC has strengthened the US-Australia alliance immensely with enactment of AUKUS in 2023 because of his skilful work to create bipartisan consensus in a bitterly divided congress,” Mr Courtney told The Australian. “He is respected and admired by legislators on both sides of the aisle, a rare feat in DC.”

Mr Trump’s remarks were the first time he has commented publicly on Mr Rudd and could signal a rocky path for Canberra-Washington relations should Mr Trump be re-elected in November.

Mr Hockey, who developed a good relationship with Mr Trump as ambassador, said Mr Rudd was likely to survive a second Trump presidency.

“I think if Donald Trump is elected, on day one he will have a long list of people that he will want to seek vengeance against. And Kevin Rudd is not one of them,” Mr Hockey told The Australian at the time.

Kevin Rudd, at his residence in Washington. Source – Twitter