Unfortunately, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, just got caught in a shitstorm. This chaos ensued following an awkward public confrontation between himself and former President Donald Trump. During a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump publicly declared, “I don’t like you, and I probably never will,” raising questions about Rudd’s suitability for his diplomatic role.
In the wake of the incident, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley changed Rudd’s position to “untenable.” She called for his resignation from the position. Soon afterwards, Ley backtracked, retracting her original call and suggesting that she was beginning to soften her position on the ambassador’s fate.
Political Reactions and Diverging Views
Ley’s remarks sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Australian federal government. Liberal Senator Jane Hume came to the defence of Rudd, claiming calls for him to resign were inappropriate. Hume called Ley’s comments “a touch churlish”, emphasizing the division of opinion within the now government-less conservative party.
“Kevin Rudd is the prime minister’s choice for ambassador — it’s a big job,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of the position despite her earlier demands for his removal.
Prime Minister Albanese supported Rudd, asserting that no one had worked harder to secure favorable outcomes in U.S.-Australia relations. In fact, as a result of that meeting, I consider my meeting with Trump a success. He did—he walked away with what he called “a heckova deal.”
Unresolved Trade Tensions
The trade war with the US looms large as the backdrop to this political drama. Trump has imposed tariffs on Australian goods, among the lowest rates applied to any foreign nation, and the Australian government has yet to secure relief from these tariffs. The ambassador’s role thus continues to be indispensable in managing these tricky trade dynamics.
That appointment, Rudd’s confirmation as ambassador, was set in stone after a fateful first meeting between Trump and Albanese. Throughout their exchange, Trump apparently declared that he’d been absolved by Rudd. This thankfully grace-notes tone cuts almost completely opposite to the very real public hostility exhibited toward one another in their last joint appearance.
