Kevin Rudd’s SHOCK Exit: Australia’s Ambassador to the US Steps Down Amid Trump Tensions – Just Months After a Fiery White House Row
- Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, will conclude his posting in March – a year earlier than scheduled
- The shock move comes after a heated exchange with Donald Trump at the White House in October, where the US President told Rudd: “I don’t like you, and I probably never will”
- Rudd will join the Asia Society as its global president, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailing him as the “world’s most eminent and sought-after expert on China and China-US relations”
In a dramatic development, Kevin Rudd’s tenure as Australia’s Ambassador to the US has come to an abrupt end, with the former Labor leader announcing his departure just months after a fiery row with Donald Trump at the White House.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese broke the news on Tuesday, thanking Rudd for his service to Australia and praising his efforts in advancing Australia-US relations. However, Albanese was quick to dismiss speculation that the Trump administration had played a role in Rudd’s exit, saying: “No, one of the things about President Trump is that he looks forward on these issues… whoever follows Kevin, if it’s as good as that, I’ll be pretty happy.”
The controversy surrounding Rudd’s departure centres on a heated exchange with Trump at the White House in October, where the US President took umbrage with Rudd’s past criticisms of him. Rudd had previously called Trump a “village idiot” and “traitor to the West” on social media, prompting Trump to tell him: “I don’t like you, and I probably never will.”
Despite the tension, Rudd offered an apology to Trump, which was accepted. However, the incident marked a low point in the relationship between the two men, with Trump later describing Rudd as “not the brightest bulb” in an interview with Nigel Farage.
Rudd’s departure has sparked surprise in diplomatic circles, with his predecessor, Arthur Sinodinos, saying he was “surprised” by the news. “Diplomatic posts are normally three years – maybe a fourth or fifth year – so it’s happened very suddenly,” Sinodinos told Sky News.
However, Albanese has praised Rudd’s performance as ambassador, saying he had “done a good job in Washington”. Rudd will now take up a new role as global president of the Asia Society, with Albanese describing him as the “world’s most eminent and sought-after expert on China and China-US relations”.
In a statement, Rudd expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as ambassador, saying it had been an “honour” to represent Australia in the US. He also thanked the trustees of the Asia Society for offering him the new role, saying he was excited to work on the “future of US-China relations”.
As Rudd prepares to depart, attention is turning to his replacement, with Albanese saying the key requirement would be the ability to “reach across a broad spectrum of support”. The search for a new ambassador is set to begin in earnest, with the Prime Minister seeking someone with the “personal skills” and experience to navigate the complex world of US politics.