Ambassador Kevin Rudd has the full backing of the Prime Minister, even though the US President doesn’t like him. Photo: Facebook.
Kevin Rudd’s job is safe despite the world’s most powerful person publicly expressing his dislike for Australia’s man in Washington.
United States President Donald Trump may have shot down Australia’s US Ambassador in front of the world’s cameras, but Anthony Albanese has thrown his full support behind Mr Rudd.
Mr Albanese is even crediting the ambassador, and former Australian Labor prime minister, for much of his trip’s success to the US Capitol.
The president told Mr Rudd he didn’t like him when it was pointed out the ambassador, who had been critical of Mr Trump before both men were in their current positions, was in the room during the White House press conference with Mr Albanese.
The widely watched exchange somewhat overshadowed the media event and sparked calls from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley for Mr Rudd to stand down because his position had become untenable.
But Mr Albanese said the president’s remarks were “just some banter” that had no negative impact on the meetings or the bilateral relationship.
“And people who were there would’ve seen that,” he told journalists when asked about the incident later. “To quote President Trump, all is forgiven. And he said that while you were exiting the room.
“Some of you heard that, some of you reported that, that’s up to you. But Kevin Rudd is doing a fantastic job as the ambassador.
“And I’ve got to say, up on the Hill, every single person who we met with and the people who spoke this morning all say exactly the same thing.”
Mr Albanese dismissed Ms Ley’s comments as the Opposition playing politics, adding the exchange between Mr Trump and Mr Rudd wasn’t a significant moment.
“I think it’s looking to talk themselves [Coalition] into a story. Once again, they had an option of backing the Australian national interest, or playing politics. They chose, of course, to play politics…,” Mr Albanese said.
“Kevin Rudd’s doing a fantastic job. And the work he did into this outcome is certainly recognised by me, and recognised by all of his American friends as well.”
Mr Albanese also poured praise on his man in Washington during a breakfast event attended by numerous US politicians.
“If there’s a harder-working ambassador on the Hill, then please let me know because Kevin works his guts out and he seems to know everything,” he said.
“I want to personally thank him for the work he does.”
The Opposition Leader has since toned down her criticism of Mr Rudd and stopped calling for him to step down.
“Well Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister’s choice for ambassador. It’s a big job,” Ms Ley said when asked again on Wednesday (22 October).
“What was clear yesterday was the Prime Minister has a lot of catching up to do with respect to the relationship with the US and the next steps.”
Her revised remarks follow members of her own team praising the outcome of Mr Albanese’s meeting with President Trump.
Liberal Party backbencher Jane Hume even described it as “a little bit churlish” to call for Mr Rudd to resign, particularly after all the work that had gone into securing the $8.5 billion critical minerals deal with the US.
“The work clearly has been done on critical minerals and rare earths by Kevin Rudd personally, and I think he should be acknowledged for that good work,” Senator Hume said.
“It was a Team Australia moment. This is a really good deal, a great outcome for Australia, and the Prime Minister has done what the Coalition has been urging him to do for such a long time, which is act in the national interest.”
Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie described the critical minerals deal as “fantastic” and a key outcome of Mr Albanese’s meeting with the president.
“It’s absolutely mission accomplished for Team Australia,” Senator McKenzie said.
“And I think it really does show the importance of the alliance, that no matter who is in the Lodge, who is in the White House, this is our most important geostrategic relationship.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
