- Trump’s shocking admission: “When they say bad about me, I don’t forget”
- Rudd’s future in doubt after Trump’s cryptic remark
- Albanese slams “fake media” reporting, says relationship with Trump is fine
Anthony Albanese has dismissed concerns over Kevin Rudd’s future as US ambassador after Donald Trump issued a stern warning about not forgetting criticism from the veteran Labor figure. In a dramatic escalation of the diplomatic spat, Trump said, “When they say bad about me, I don’t forget” – leaving many to wonder if Rudd’s past tweets had sealed his fate.
However, Albanese was adamant that there was no issue in the relationship, describing it as a “trivia” and blaming the media for asking about it. “Frankly, it says more about the journo,” he told the Today show. “I was in the room. It was fine.”
The controversy began during Tuesday’s meeting between Albanese and Trump, where the US President appeared not to know who Rudd was. When the ambassador was pointed out, Trump asked, “You said bad?” before adding, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.” The Australian government later downplayed the remark, insisting it was “tongue in cheek” and that Trump had forgiven Rudd afterwards.
But Trump’s latest comment has raised fresh doubts about Rudd’s future in the role. Albanese attempted to deflect concerns, saying, “I’m focused on substance. That’s my job. And Kevin Rudd’s doing a great job as ambassador. The delivery last week reinforces that.”
The Prime Minister also took aim at reporting about Australia’s relationship with the United States, describing it as “what some might call fake media”. In a separate interview on Sunrise, he said there was a lot of “hype” surrounding his visit to the United States, and that the media should focus on the “substance” of his talks with Trump.
Meanwhile, Trump is yet to pick a new ambassador to Australia, but has promised to choose someone that Albanese likes. “Your leader [Mr Albanese] was just here, and he’s a great guy, and I’m going to make sure we have somebody that he likes,” he said.
The drama has overshadowed the successful outcomes of the meeting, including a multi-billion-dollar critical minerals deal to boost the processing and supply of rare earths, and Trump’s strong support for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Albanese and Trump will both attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia next week, where they will have another opportunity to discuss their differences. But for now, Rudd’s future as US ambassador hangs in the balance, as the world waits with bated breath for Trump’s next move.