16 January 2025

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Ambassador Kevin Rudd invited to attend Donald Trump's inauguration

| Andrew McLaughlin
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Trump inauguration

The weather in Washington DC for Monday’s inauguration is looking cold but mostly dry. Photo: Screenshot.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong and Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd have been invited to represent Australia at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC on 20 January.

The invitation comes as relations between Australia and the US have rarely been closer following the signing of the trilateral AUKUS agreement three years ago, but also comes after previous criticism of Trump’s first term as president by both Senator Wong and Mr Rudd.

Senator Wong confirmed she would be attending the inauguration and would also meet with senior members of Mr Trump’s incoming administration, including his nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

“I am honoured to be invited to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States,” she said.

“This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our cooperation.”

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In 2021, Senator Wong described Trump as “unpredictable”, said he contributed to a “decline in US influence and power”, and that the US withdrew “from its place in the world much more than was in Australia and the world’s interests”.

“You know, we’ve seen somebody – a leader – in recent times who was prepared to trash alliances and partnerships for personal political interest and his name was Donald Trump,” she said in a 2021 radio interview.

She also said the first Trump White House had provided “a lot of material for late-night shows”, and said that “it would be preferable if there was perhaps less turnover and perhaps a bit more stability”.

When CEO of the Asia Society prior to being appointed as ambassador, Mr Rudd famously described Mr Trump as “the most destructive president in history”, in a June 2020 tweet which has since been deleted.

The tweet – which also showed Trump standing with an upside-down bible outside the church opposite the White House – said, “He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence.”

In a March 2024 interview with British politician Nigel Farage when Mr Rudd’s tweet was read to him, Mr Trump described him as “nasty”, and said “he won’t be there long as ambassador to the US” if he (Trump) won office.

Shortly after the interview aired, and in the face of Coalition outcries over the comments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Wong backed Mr Rudd, saying he was doing “an excellent job”.

It remains to be seen whether Mr Rudd’s invitation is a peace offering from the incoming administration, or a last hurrah.

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Speaking to ABC Radio on Monday, Opposition Leader – and possible next Prime Minister – Peter Dutton said he had worked with four US administrations and had formed “functioning, productive relationships”.

“It was the reason we were able to do the deal on AUKUS with the US and the UK,” he said.

“But Penny Wong has made some pretty derogatory remarks in the past about President Trump. As we know, Ambassador Rudd has, as well.

“So presumably that will form part of the discussions that they have in Washington to explain whether or not that view has changed,” he added.

“I think Penny Wong has been completely at odds with the US over a number of issues in recent months with regard to the Middle East as well.

“So, there’s a lot of repair work and I think the damage that Penny Wong has done to a number of relationships should be the focus of repair work over the balance of this term.”

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