Kevin Rudd leaves his post as Australia’s ambassador to the US, a tenure marked by a public clash with former President Donald Trump.
SYDNEY: Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, is leaving his post after a three-year tenure.
His departure follows a public rift with former US President Donald Trump, who last year told Rudd, “I don’t like you either.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked Rudd for his “exceptional service” in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday.
The former prime minister will step down on March 31 to become president of the Asia Society think tank in New York.
Rudd’s tenure was overshadowed by criticism he levelled at Trump before taking the diplomatic role.
He had previously described Trump as the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West.”
Rudd deleted those comments after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
The tension surfaced publicly during an Australia-US leaders’ meeting at the White House last October.
Trump suggested Rudd might want to apologise for his earlier remarks.
Turning to Prime Minister Albanese, Trump asked, “Where is he? Is he still working for you?”
When Rudd tried to explain the comments were made before his appointment, Trump cut him off.
“I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will,” Trump said.
The incident prompted some calls from Australian opposition figures for Rudd’s posting to end.
Albanese’s statement highlighted Rudd’s delivery of “concrete outcomes for Australia” under both US administrations.
Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, was appointed ambassador during Joe Biden’s presidency.
His expertise on China was seen as a key asset for influencing Washington policy.
