Australian Ambassador to US Leaves Post Early Amid Tensions with Trump

After a three-year tenure under President Donald Trump, Australia on Tuesday said its ambassador to the US was leaving a year early before completing his tenure. According to AFP, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who departs his post on March 31 to become president of the Asia Society think tank in New York, had sharply criticised Trump before joining the office. He was appointed as Australia’s envoy to Washington in December 2022. This comes after Trump, in October last year, had expressed disdain for Rudd during a televised meeting at that White House. This was condemned by the Australian opposition who called for his posting to be ended. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said it was “entirely" Rudd’s decision to step down a year early. “Kevin Rudd has a work ethic unlike anyone I have ever met. He has worked tirelessly. He’s moving on to a role that he believes is pivotal," he told reporters. According to AFP, before taking up his post as Australian envoy, Rudd had described Trump as the “most destructive president in history" and a “traitor to the West" who “drags America and democracy through the mud". The remarks were deleted after Trump won the Presidential elections in 2024. However, at a White House meeting in October last year, Trump asked for Rudd’s apology for his earlier remarks. Turning to Albanese at his side, Trump said, “Where is he? Is he still working for you?" Rudd began to explain, “That was before I took this position, Mr. President." Trump cut him off, saying, “I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will." During his tenure as Australia’s ambassador to the US, Rudd had gained support for the Aukus nuclear submarine agreement from the US president, Donald Trump, helped in negotiating the release of the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, and securing agreements on critical minerals and AI. Before serving as ambassador, Rudd was president and chief executive of the Asia Society from 2021 to 2023. He is a recognised expert on Chinese-American relations and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. According to The Guardian, former Labor ministers including Joel Fitzgibbon and Stephen Conroy and former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan are among possible candidates for the next Australian envoy.