U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd during a high-level meeting at the White House on Monday.
The tense but ultimately humorous exchange unfolded in the Cabinet Room as Trump hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the pair’s first official bilateral meeting.
The two leaders had just signed an $8.5 billion rare earth minerals agreement when an Australian reporter raised Rudd’s past remarks about Trump.
Highlights
- President Trump lashed out at Australia’s ambassador Kevin Rudd over past insults during a White House meeting.
- Trump and Australian PM Albanese signed an $8.5 billion rare earth minerals deal amid tensions with China.
- Rudd had called Trump a “village idiot” and “traitor to the West” before his ambassador appointment in 2024.
- Despite the harsh exchange, laughter broke the tension, and Rudd privately apologized, with Trump forgiving him.
Trump lashed out at Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. during a meeting on Monday
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Rudd, a former Australian prime minister, had previously called Trump president “nuts,” “the most destructive president in history,” a “traitor to the West,” and “a village idiot.”
The journalist from Sky News Australia asked Trump if he had any concerns about Rudd’s past comments about him, to which Trump replied, “I don’t know anything about him. If he said something bad, maybe he’d like to apologize.”
Then, he turned to Albanese and asked, “Did an ambassador say something bad about me? Don’t tell me. Where is he? Is he still working for you?”
Albanese, seated beside Trump, smiled awkwardly and pointed across the table. “He’s right there,” the prime minister said, indicating Rudd.
“Did you say bad?” Trump asked Rudd.
Rudd began to explain, “Before I took this position, Mr. President…” but Trump cut him off. “I don’t like you either,” he said sharply. “And I probably never will.”
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The remark drew loud laughter from officials and journalists in the room, easing what had been a visibly uncomfortable moment.
According to sources present, Rudd later leaned over the table to apologize privately, and Trump replied, “All is forgiven.”
Rudd, who served as Australia’s prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and again briefly in 2013, was appointed ambassador to Washington in 2024. His previous comments about Trump resurfaced shortly after his confirmation.
Rudd previously called Trump ‘a village idiot’ and ‘a traitor to the West’
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
In November 2024, a video from a 2021 interview with Rudd resurfaced, in which he described Trump as “a village idiot” and “not a leading intellectual force.” Rudd later deleted old social media posts criticizing Trump.
Despite the awkward exchange, the meeting between Trump and Albanese was cordial, with Trump praising the Australian PM as “a great leader.”
The two leaders signed a major deal on critical minerals, as China tightened control over its supply chain.
Trump also used the press conference to criticize former President Joe Biden. He called one reporter a “nasty guy” and complimented another on his haircut.
Trump has imposed a sweeping 10% import tax on most Australian goods, and 50% on aluminum and steel as part of his tariffs.
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong later downplayed the exchange between Trump and Rudd, telling Australia’s Nine Network that the president’s remark was “clearly tongue-in-cheek.”
“We heard the laughter. We know that we had a very successful meeting and full credit to Kevin,” Wong said.