Kevin Rudd approached Donald Trump after a tense press conference moment. Here’s what happened
Donald Trump has reportedly “forgiven” Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd over the latter’s old remarks labelling the US president a “traitor to the West”.
Rudd, a former prime minister and now Australia’s ambassador to the US, was present this morning at the landmark meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The meeting saw Trump and Albanese sign off on an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal, while warm behaviour was on show between the two leaders.
Donald Trump addresses Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd during the president’s media address with Anthony Albanese (AP)
But there was an awkward moment when one reporter asked Trump why it had taken him nine months into his term as president to meet with Albanese – and whether Rudd’s since-deleted remarks had anything to do with it.
Trump said he didn’t “know anything about” who the reporter was referring to and asked Albanese where Rudd was and if he still worked for him.
When Albanese pointed out the former Labor leader sitting across from Trump at the cabinet table, Trump asked Rudd if he “said bad”, to which Rudd replied, “before I took this position, Mr President”.
Rudd was hit with a Trump drive-by insult. (The White House)
“I don’t like you either and I probably never will,” Trump replied.
The comments prompted laughter in the room.
The Sydney Morning Herald has since reported that after the cameras were turned off, Rudd approached Trump to apologise for his comments.
Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump meet at the White House (X/@AlboMP)
“All is forgiven,” Trump said, according to sources in the room.
Prior to being appointed ambassador in 2022, Rudd had posted remarks online labelling Trump “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the West”.
Those have long since been deleted but they have prompted ongoing calls from the Coalition for Rudd to be recalled from Washington.
Trump “forgave” Rudd’s comments once the cameras were off. (AP)
Foreign Minister Penny Wong brushed off the exchange this morning, telling Today it was “tongue in cheek”.
“Full credit to Kevin, ambassador Rudd has worked so hard on, firstly getting this agreement,” she said.
“He’s worked so hard on assuring AUKUS and the delivery of the submarines in our national interest.
“And he’s worked so hard on the critical minerals deal.”
JD Vance, the US Vice President, once compared Trump to Adolf Hitler. (AP)
She said Rudd had been instrumental to the “success” of Albanese’s meeting with Trump.
Rudd would be far from the first fierce critic the president has “forgiven”.
Vice President JD Vance once referred to Trump as “America’s Hitler”, while current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom Trump sparred in his first election campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, described him as a “con artist”.
