Donald Trump calls Kevin Rudd ‘nasty’ and says he ‘won’t be there long’ as Australia’s ambassador to US

Donald Trump has taken a swipe at the former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, calling him “nasty” and claiming he “won’t be there long” as Australian ambassador to the United States.

Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for November’s US elections, made the comments in an interview with the former British conservative politician Nigel Farage on GB News overnight.

Rudd, before becoming ambassador in March 2023, had been scathing of Trump. In a tweet still available on his X account, Rudd called Trump “The most destructive president in history”.

“He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence.” In another tweet, he called Trump “a traitor to the West”.

Asked by Farage about some of those criticisms, Trump at first appeared to not know who Rudd was, before then insulting him several times.

“I don’t know. He won’t be there long if that’s the case,” Trump said.

“I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb. But I don’t know much about him.

“But if he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was contacted for comment.

Since becoming ambassador, Rudd has struck a more conciliatory tone, saying both the US and Australia were “robust democracies” and that he had “worked comfortably and seamlessly” with senior Republicans.

“That’s our job as an embassy and that’s my job as ambassador,” Rudd said last August.

Joe Hockey, the former Liberal treasurer and previous US ambassador before Rudd, enjoyed a strong relationship with Trump. Hockey has spoken publicly about the pair playing golf together.

More to come …