Anthony Albanese has faced mounting calls to dump Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to the US after his humiliating meeting with Donald trump.
The long-awaited face to face between Albanese and Trump at the White House on Monday took a turn after the US President was asked by a reporter if the US President had any concerns about previous comments made by Rudd.
Rudd had previously labelled Trump the ‘most destructive’ president in US history on social media, before deleting the posts in 2024 after his election win.
Trump was informed by Albanese that the ambassador who had spoken badly about him was Rudd, prompting the US president to look across the table at him and say: ‘I don’t like you either, and probably never will.’
Aussies quickly mocked the awkward exchange, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley leading calls for Albanese to dump Rudd.
‘It’s taken nearly a year to get this meeting, and that’s been a failure of the ambassador,’ she told Sky News on Tuesday.
‘When the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the Prime Minister is actually laughing at him.
‘I think that tells us all we need to know about the fact that it’s probably not reasonable that he continue in the role, because there are critically important issues to address.’
Trump and Albanese sign an agreement on rare earth and critical minerals during a meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House
Aussies have echoed the calls on social media, demanding Rudd be sacked.
‘Any non governmental organisation would have sacked Rudd already. He is an embarrassment to Australia,’ one wrote on X.
‘Time to sack Rudd. Show some balls and do it,’ a second said.
Another said: ‘Rudd put in his place by President Trump. Is he here? I don’t like you either, and I probably never will. His position is untenable now. Albo must sack him.’
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong defended Rudd, arguing Trump was not serious.
‘Anyone looking at that knows that was tongue-in-cheek. We heard the laughter. We know that we had a very successful meeting,’ Wong told Today.
‘Full credit to ambassador Rudd [who] has worked so hard. He’s worked so hard on ensuring AUKUS and the delivery of the submarines in our national interest.
‘The success of this meeting is in great part due to the work that Kevin Rudd has been doing in the United States.’
US President Donald Trump went after Kevin Rudd after past comments made
Trump goes after Rudd in front of a packed room filled with reporters
The ordeal had been triggered after Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell asked Trump a series of question during his meeting with Albanese.
‘Have you had any concern that Australia has taken nine months to get this meeting?’ he said.
‘Have you had any concerns with this administration, the stance on Palestine, climate change or even things the ambassador has said about you in the past?’
Trump appeared to become curt when he found out an ‘ambassador’ had said ‘bad’ things about him and asked who he was, prompting Albanese to laugh awkwardly and point his finger at Rudd.
Footage captured Trump asking Rudd directly if he had said ‘bad’ things about him.
Rudd responded: ‘Before I took this position, Mr President.’
Trump replied: ‘I don’t like you either, and I probably never will,’ while Rudd continued saying: ‘I withdraw those statements.’
Rudd then turned silent and his reaction became visibly awkward as journalists continued to ask questions.
Australian sources in the room told the Sydney Morning Herald that Trump spoke to Rudd after the meeting and said ‘All’s forgiven’.
