Donald Trump’s top adviser has slammed Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting his time in Washington could be coming to an end.
Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino Jr responded to Rudd’s congratulatory message on Trump’s election victory with an hourglass emoji on social media platform counted.
The Trump administration’s message came just weeks after Rudd quietly deleted tweets from 2020 calling Trump “the most destructive president in history.”
Before being appointed ambassador in 2023, Rudd had also called Trump a “political liability”, a “problem for the world”, a “traitor to the West” and a “village idiot”.
Scavino’s social media post suggests that the Trump administration is aware of Rudd’s past hostility toward the new US president.
Despite his past criticism of Trump, Rudd hopes to keep his job in Washington.
“Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance,” his office said, in response to stories about his nasty comments about Trump that emerged after his re-election.
‘In his previous role as director of a US-based independent think tank, Mr Rudd was a frequent commentator on US politics.
‘Following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has removed these past comments from his personal website and social media channels.
Trump’s senior advisor Dan Scavino Jr has veiledly attacked Kevin Rudd
Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino Jr responded to Rudd’s congratulatory message on Trump’s election victory with an hourglass emoji on social media platform X.
In a March interview with British politician Nigel Farage, Trump was confronted about Rudd’s hostility toward him.
“I think the previous ambassador, Joe Hockey, was a good friend of yours, you got on quite well with him, now they’ve appointed Kevin Rudd – I mean, he’s said the most horrible things.”
“You were a ‘destructive president’, ‘a traitor to the West’ and now you are Australia’s ambassador to Washington. Could you take a call from you?” Farage asked.
“If that’s the case, it won’t be there for long,” Trump warned.
‘I don’t know much about him. I heard it was a bit unpleasant.
‘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.
Meanwhile, ahead of the US election, Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump said it would be “somewhat difficult” for the government to keep Rudd in Washington if he had not shown signs of a “change of heart” towards Trump. .
“It’s not my decision, but I think it would be nice to have a person who appreciates everything that Donald Trump has been through and wants to serve our country at this moment, this really critical moment in American history,” he told Sky. News.
“Obviously, that’s a little difficult to accept, and perhaps we would want to elect someone else (for the top US embassy position).”
While Rudd is being hounded for past comments he made about Trump, he is not alone among Labor figures in making unflattering comments about the brash property tycoon-turned-politician.
A video from 2017 that recently resurfaced showed Albanese in a question and answer session on Splendor in the Grass when he was serving as the Labor Party’s transport and infrastructure spokesperson while in opposition.
When asked how he would “deal with Trump,” Albanese responded, “With fear.”
While Rudd is being hounded for past comments he made about Trump, he is not alone among Labor figures in making unflattering comments about the brash property tycoon-turned-politician.
“We have an alliance with the United States, we have to deal with it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t criticize it,” Albanese said.
“He (Trump) scares me to death and I think it’s worrying that the leader of the free world thinks you can do politics through 140 characters on Twitter overnight.”
Sunrise host Nat Barr suggested Albanese may need to apologize after Trump was elected president of the United States for the second time.
“No, I hope to work with President Trump,” he insisted.
‘I think I have demonstrated my ability to work with world leaders and develop relationships with them, which are positive.
“And I think I have demonstrated that in the two and a half years that I have had the honor of being Prime Minister.”