‘I don’t forget’: Trump casts doubt on Rudd forgiveness

Washington: US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on his forgiveness of Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd, saying he doesn’t forget criticism of him, while promising to appoint his own ambassador to Australia once he finds someone Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will “like”.

Rudd was dressed down by Trump during Albanese’s meeting with the US president this week, after a reporter asked Trump about old comments Rudd made – before he was ambassador – describing Trump as “a traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history”.

Trump indicated he was not familiar with Rudd or the remarks. “You said bad?” he asked Rudd. “Before I took this job, Mr President,” Rudd replied. Trump then said: “I don’t like you either. And I probably never will.”

It was not entirely clear whether the president was being serious. But Albanese said that later, as the cameras were leaving the room, Trump remarked that Rudd seemed like a “good guy” and told him “all is forgiven”.

However, as Trump was leaving the White House for Asia late on Friday night (Saturday afternoon AEDT), he indicated that he would not forget Rudd’s remarks.

“No, I don’t know anything about him,” Trump said when asked by this masthead about his interaction with Rudd and whether he had forgiven the Australian. “I don’t – I think he said a long time ago something bad. You know, when they say bad about me, I don’t forget.”

It was not clear whether Trump had fully heard and understood the question, given the loud noise from Marine One – the presidential helicopter – nearby.

Trump also told this masthead he would soon appoint a new US ambassador to Australia – a post that has been empty for nearly a year – and had at least one candidate in mind.

“I’m talking to your leader [Albanese], who was just here, and he’s a great guy, and I’m going to make sure we have somebody that he likes,” Trump said.

“I have one or two people [in mind], I don’t know if they would like – I do, I have somebody in mind.

“Here’s the good news, everybody wants to be ambassador to Australia.”

The position of US ambassador to Australia has generally been regarded as a desirable position, as is Australia’s ambassador to the US, and is often filled by a political or business associate of the president of the day, rather than a career diplomat.

But this has frequently involved long gaps without an ambassador. Joe Biden’s appointment, Caroline Kennedy, the only surviving child of former president John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, took up her post in July 2022 and served for less than 2½ years.

Since Kennedy vacated the post in November 2024, there has been no US ambassador to Australia, with the role filled in the interim by Chargée d’Affaires Erika Olson.

There has been speculation Trump could appoint a Hollywood identity, such as American-born, Australian-raised actor Mel Gibson, to the role.

The Coalition initially responded to the Trump-Rudd incident by calling for Rudd to be sacked as ambassador. But Opposition Leader Sussan Ley softened her rhetoric the following day, saying Rudd was the PM’s choice and had “a big job” to do.

Rudd has also won praise from across the political spectrum for his relentless work in Washington, especially in the US Congress.

Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume said calls for Rudd to be sent home were “churlish”, while former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott said Rudd had done “a good job for Australia”.

Albanese also praised Rudd extensively in Washington this week. He told a gathering of members of Congress: “If there’s a harder working ambassador on [Capitol Hill] then please let me know because Kevin works his guts out, and he seems to know everything.”

A focal point of Trump’s Asia trip will be his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Asked on board Air Force One whether he would change US policy of strategic ambiguity about Taiwan, Trump said he did not want to talk about that subject.

“I think China wants to have 10 great years, and they can. Or they can have some bad years,” he said.

Asked about his comments during the Albanese meeting that he did not think China would try to take over Taiwan, Trump said: “I hope they won’t. We’ll have to see. That would be very dangerous for them to do.”

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