Kevin Rudd dismissed Donald Trump’s first presidency as a period of “episodic madness” and asked an incredulous crowd “how did that happen?” in a newly discovered video filmed less than a year before he took up his post as Australia’s man in Washington.
The former prime minister turned Australian ambassador to the United States has in the past called the president-elect a “village idiot,” a “traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history.”
But a newly discovered lecture recorded in June 2022 for the Asia Society, where he served as president, has now exposed how Rudd never imagined Trump would ever return to power and how he dismissed his presidency as a period of “madness.” .
“Let us never take a step back from saying that we are allies of the United States,” he told the stunned crowd in Switzerland.
‘For all the American predisposition to episodic madness… Look at Trump: how did that happen? “It was a walk on the wild side for all of us.”
Less than nine months later, Rudd was controversially appointed Australia’s ambassador to the United States by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Rudd now faces the seemingly arduous task of trying to curry favor and influence with an incoming Trump administration that is actively hostile toward him because of his past comments.
For example, the Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday morning that one of Trump’s top campaign advisors Dan Scavino Jr. gave an indication that Rudd would not last long under the new administration.
A newly discovered lecture recorded in June 2022 for the Asia Society, where he served as president, has now exposed how Rudd never imagined Donald Trump would ever return to power.
Trump has previously expressed his disapproval of Kevin Rudd, calling him “disgusting” and stating that he “won’t be there for long.”
Sharing Rudd’s congratulatory message to the new president-elect on X, Scavino Jr posted an hourglass GIF to his two million followers, suggesting his days were numbered.
Although the president of the United States ultimately has no power over the representatives that different countries appoint as ambassadors, they must be able to work with the new administration to promote their nation’s interests.
And now Daily Mail Australia has unearthed more mocking comments Rudd has made about Trump that are sure to come back to haunt him.
In another Asia Society conference, recorded in 2018, the former prime minister spoke about the growing tensions between the United States and China under their respective leaders Xi Jingping and Trump.
Then enters Donald Trump. “Donald, as we know, is not a… leading intellectual force,” Mr. Rudd said, drawing laughter from the audience.
There are growing calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to fire Rudd and install someone else who can build a better relationship with the new Trump administration.
In fact, one political expert said he thought Rudd could manage with help from Scott Morrison, as his former fellow prime minister has maintained good relations with Trump.
“It’s going to be tough for Rudd – he has worked hard, with Morrison’s help, to become more integrated with Republicans over the last 18 months,” the source told Daily Mail Australia.
“So people in the party respect him, but Trump is Trump.”
‘I think yesterday the majority on Capitol Hill would have said ‘it’ll be fine’ (Rudd). But that hourglass tweet changes things a little.”
Trump has also previously expressed his disapproval of Rudd, calling him “disgusting.”
‘I don’t know much about him. I heard it was a little unpleasant,” Trump told GB News earlier this year.
‘I’ve heard it’s not the brightest bulb, but I don’t know much about it. If he is hostile, he won’t be there for long.
Several posts on Rudd’s official X account criticizing Trump were deleted last week after it became clear he would win a second term as president.
In a particularly brutal post from 2020, Rudd described Trump as “the most destructive president in history.”
“Drags America and democracy through the mud. He likes to foster division, not cure it. “He abuses Christianity, the Church and the Bible to justify violence,” Mr. Rudd wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has approached the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.