Donald Trump’s Brutal Snub to Australia’s Top Envoy: ‘I Don’t Like You, Kevin Rudd, and I Probably Never Will’
- Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, was left stunned after Donald Trump told him “I don’t like you” during a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- The former US president’s extraordinary outburst has sparked calls for Rudd’s ambassadorship to be terminated.
- In a tense exchange, Trump indicated that Rudd should apologise for past criticisms, and Rudd later approached Trump for an off-camera discussion to offer a new apology.
Australia’s top envoy to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has been left reeling after Donald Trump delivered a brutal snub, telling him “I don’t like you, and I probably never will” in a heated exchange at the White House.
The extraordinary outburst, which has sparked outrage and calls for Rudd’s ambassadorship to be terminated, occurred during a meeting between Trump, Rudd, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I don’t know anything about him,” Trump said, referring to Rudd. “If he said bad, maybe he would like to apologise.” The comment was met with laughter from Albanese and Australian ministers, but the federal opposition has been quick to condemn the incident as “untenable” for Rudd’s continued role as ambassador.
After the exchange, Rudd approached Trump for an off-camera discussion, during which he offered a new apology to the former president. Trump reportedly accepted the apology, saying that Rudd was forgiven.
The incident has reignited debate about Rudd’s suitability for the role, with Opposition leader Sussan Ley rejecting the suggestion that Trump’s remarks were made in jest. “That’s not my take-out,” she told Channel Seven. “When the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the prime minister is actually laughing at him, I think it tells you all we need to know about the fact it’s probably not reasonable he continue in the role.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has defended Rudd, saying that his remarks were “clearly tongue in cheek” and that he had done an “extremely good job” in securing the meeting and critical minerals deal.
The controversy has sparked fresh questions about Rudd’s continued tenure as ambassador, with many calling for his removal following the public embarrassment.
In a previous interview, Trump had suggested that Rudd may not remain as ambassador “for long” under his presidency, citing Rudd’s critical tweets about him as “destructive” and a “traitor to the West.”
The dramatic exchange has left many wondering about the future of Rudd’s ambassadorship and the implications for Australia-US relations.