Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has threatened that Kevin Rudd, currently Australia’s ambassador to the US, “won’t be there long” because of his “hostile” stance towards the former president.
Trump made the comments, where he also accused Rudd of being “a little bit nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”, in an interview on GB News with Nigel Farage, a former UK politician viewed as a key figure in the Brexit campaign.
9News has contacted Rudd, who served as the 26th prime minister of Australia, for comment. Rudd was appointed ambassador to the US this year.
/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fe50ac975-a647-47f4-b787-073a0fd1972e)
In a sit-down interview with Trump on GB News, Farage asked the former US President what he made of comments previously made by Rudd about Trump’s position in power.
The question’s context alluded to the AUKUS security alliance, China’s ambitions in Asia-Pacific and the changing of Federal Government to Labor from the Liberals.
“The previous Ambassador Joe Hockey, I think was quite a good friend of yours. You got on pretty well with him,” Farage said.
“Now they’ve appointed Kevin Rudd, former Labor MP. I mean, he has said the most horrible things, you were a destructive president, a traitor to the West. And he’s now Australia’s ambassador in Washington.”
/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F0d72ddb0-4de2-4de4-95c8-5cd8c8921203)
Farage then asked Trump if he “would take a phone call” from Rudd.
“Well, I don’t know,” Trump replied.
“He won’t be there long, if that’s the case. I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb. But, I don’t know much about him.
“But if, if he’s at all hostile. He will not be there long.”
Responding to Trump’s damning comments, a DFAT spokesperson told 9News “Kevin Rudd is doing a good job as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States”.
But given some of Rudd’s historical hot takes on Trump, things could get awkward if Trump beats Biden when Americans vote later this year.
Rudd has declared “Donald Trump is a traitor to the West”, in a 2022 Facebook post.
And two years earlier, in a post on X, then Twitter, he branded Trump “the most destructive president in history”, claiming “he drags America and democracy through the mud.”
Trump, Rudd continued, “thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence”.
Trump later walked back those comments, saying he was being sarcastic.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Rudd would be “an outstanding appointment”, when he confirmed Rudd had been selected as ambassador to the US.
“He brings a great deal of credit to Australia by agreeing to take up this position as a former prime minister,” Albanese said.
