EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump’s SHOCKING SNUB to Australia’s US Ambassador Kevin Rudd – “I Don’t Like You, And I Probably Never Will”
- President Trump’s brutal put-down of Rudd in front of PM Anthony Albanese at the White House
- Rudd’s past criticism of Trump sparks tension during rare earth and critical minerals agreement signing
- Albanese plays down the exchange, calling it “light-hearted discussion” despite Trump’s harsh words
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been left to defend an awkward exchange between US President Donald Trump and Australia’s US Ambassador Kevin Rudd at the White House. The uncomfortable moment occurred during talks where the two leaders signed a $13 billion agreement on rare earth and critical minerals.
When asked about Rudd’s past criticism of Trump, the US President responded with a shocking snub: “I don’t know anything about him. If he said bad, then maybe he’d like to apologise?” Trump then turned to Albanese and asked, “Did an ambassador say something bad about me? Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
Rudd, who was present at the meeting, attempted to diffuse the situation by explaining that his past comments were made before he took up his current role as Australian envoy to the US. However, Trump was unforgiving, saying: “I don’t like you, and I probably never will.”
Albanese has since played down the exchange, describing it as “light-hearted discussion”. He told Sunrise: “It was all fine. What I was focused on was on the national interest, and it was incredibly successful meeting.” Despite Trump’s harsh words, Albanese claimed to have gotten on well with the US President, saying they spent almost three hours together and had a “very successful couple of days”.
The agreement signed between the two countries involves the processing of minerals and includes joint investments between the US and Australia. The US government will also invest in a refinery for the critical mineral gallium in Western Australia. Albanese hailed the deal as a major success, saying it would create more jobs and economic activity in Australia.
Trump has also been invited to visit Australia, with Albanese saying he would “love to have him come”. However, it remains to be seen whether the US President will take up the offer after his tense exchange with Rudd.