Anthony Albanese declares Kevin Rudd is doing a ‘terrific job’ in US
Anthony Albanese has defended his long-time political ally Kevin Rudd amid suggestions the former prime minister might have to be dropped as ambassador to the US if Donald Trump wins this week’s presidential election.
The Prime Minister said Mr Rudd was doing a terrific job in Washington.
He also said Australia’s government was making sure it engaged with people from all sides of the US political system.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles have been meeting senior Republicans who may hold influential roles in a second Trump administration, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday.
This includes discussions with former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and former US House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“We engage with people across the US political system,” Mr Albanese told ABC radio on Monday.
“When I was in the United States, I met with Republicans, I met with the Democrats, I met with people in Congress, people in the Senate.”
Some Republicans have suggested Australia might not fare well if Dr Rudd remains its ambassador in the event of a Trump victory.
Earlier in the year, Mr Trump said Dr Rudd was “nasty” after a UK interviewer told the former president about negative comments the Australian had made before becoming ambassador.
But Mr Albanese denied Australia would have to move its man in Washington on.
“Australia decides who our ambassador is, and Mr Rudd is doing a terrific job,” he said.
The Nightly reported last week that Dr Rudd was on leave to promote his new book about China, developed from his doctoral thesis, days out from the US poll.
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