US President Donald Trump had an awkward confrontation with Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Monday during a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The exchange noted long-standing tensions between the two officials. When an Australian reporter asked Trump about any concerns regarding Albanese’s administration, including Rudd’s past comments about him, Trump said, “I don’t know anything about him,” seemingly unaware that Rudd was in the room. Trump then asked Rudd if he he did “something bad” and if he was still working for the Australian government. Rudd replied, “Before I took this position, Mr. President.”In the Oval Office during the bilateral meeting, Trump reportedly told Rudd, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”The tension traces back to social media posts from 2020 in which Rudd, then a former prime minister, called Trump “the most destructive president in history.” Trump had previously described Rudd as “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb in the shed,” and said Rudd “won’t be there long if that’s the case.”The awkward encounter comes as Albanese seeks to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, which is reviewing the US role in the multibillion-dollar AUKUS pact with Australia and the United Kingdom.During the visit, Trump and Albanese also signed a deal to enhance cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals, an important step for the two nations in reducing reliance on China.
