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Australian ambassador hated by Trump to leave US post early
Kevin Rudd, who criticised Trump before he became envoy, will head the Asia Society think tank after finishing his posting in March
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Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, is stepping down, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday, a year earlier than expected following criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Rudd, a former Australian prime minister, is returning to head the Asia Society think tank and will finish his posting in March, Albanese told a news conference.
“Australia and the United States are the closest of friends and allies, and this will never change,” he said. “We will continue to take forward the important work that Kevin has done, some of it is, of course, ongoing work.”
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Rudd had secured continued support for the Aukus nuclear submarine programme, Australia’s largest defence project, from the Trump administration, and negotiated a critical minerals agreement with the US, Albanese said.
Rudd made several comments criticising Trump before he became ambassador, including calling him “the most destructive president in history”. He later deleted that comment from social media when he was appointed ambassador.
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When asked during an October event at the White House during a visit by Albanese about Rudd’s past comments, Trump gestured to the ambassador across the table and said “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will”.
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