Trump’s Brutal Takedown of Kevin Rudd: ‘I Don’t Forget When You Say Bad Things About Me’
- US President Donald Trump has unleashed a scathing attack on Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, saying he “doesn’t forget” past criticisms.
- The shocking comments have sparked a firestorm in Canberra, with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison leaping to Rudd’s defence.
- Morrison has also called for the appointment of an AUKUS Tsar to oversee the country’s submarine deal with the US and UK.
In a bombshell development, Trump has ripped into Rudd, saying: “I think he said a long time ago something bad. You know, when they say bad about me, I don’t forget.” The comments have left Australian officials reeling, with many scrambling to respond to the President’s latest broadside.
But Rudd has found an unlikely ally in Scott Morrison, who has backed the embattled Ambassador and called for him to be given more support. “Whether he stays as Ambassador is a matter for the Prime Minister, but I’ve been supportive of Kevin in that role,” Morrison said.
Morrison, who was the driving force behind the AUKUS submarine deal, has also called for the appointment of a special “Tsar” to oversee the project. The former Prime Minister believes the move is essential to ensure the deal is implemented smoothly and efficiently. “What that did is it enabled us to work right across government to get the outcome,” Morrison said.
The AUKUS deal has been a major source of tension between Australia and the US, with Trump’s comments on Rudd just the latest in a series of public spats. But Morrison remains confident that the deal will go ahead, saying: “I’ve never been in any doubt about President Trump’s support for AUKUS, but I’m pleased that we’re now past that and we can now focus on the how, not the if.”
Meanwhile, the search for a new East Coast submarine base is heating up, with three options on the table: Brisbane, Wollongong, and Newcastle. Morrison has thrown his weight behind the Newcastle option, saying it’s the best choice for the country. “I always thought that the Hunter option was probably the best,” he said.