Aussies have slammed Kevin Rudd over his incredibly awkward response after US President Donald Trump said he didn’t like him, as Anthony Albanese laughed along.
Australia’s Ambassador to the US had accompanied the Prime Minister to his first proper meeting with Trump before things took a turn.
Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell had asked a question about whether Trump had any concerns about the Albanese government or previous comments made by Rudd.
Trump appeared to become curt when he found out an ‘ambassador’ had said ‘bad’ things about him and asked who he was, prompting Albanese to laugh awkwardly and point his finger at Rudd.
Footage captured Trump asking Rudd directly if he had said ‘bad’ things about him.
Rudd responded: ‘Before I took this position, Mr President.’
Trump replied: ‘I don’t like you either, and I probably never will,’ while Rudd continued saying: ‘I withdraw those statements.’
Rudd then turned silent and his reaction became visibly awkward as journalists continued to ask questions.
Footage captured the moment Kevin Rudd’s ‘heart was ripped in half’ as US President Donald Trump said he didn’t like him
Australian sources in the room told The Sydney Morning Herald that Trump spoke to Rudd after the meeting and said ‘All’s forgiven’.
Aussies ridiculed the uncomfortable interaction caught on camera, with one saying they could ‘pinpoint the second when Kevin Rudd’s heart gets ripped in half by President Trump’.
‘Kevin Rudd’s reaction when Trump says he probably never will – priceless,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘That was quite the roast.’
Others even slammed Albanese for being quick to call out Rudd.
‘Albo was pretty quick to finger Rudd out to Trump. “He’s right there!” No honour amongst these scumbags,’ they wrote.
‘Albo sounded excited with his “yeah yeah”,’ a second added.
One even took issue with the way Albanese responded after he smiled and laughed along: ‘That was a beauty. Rudd’s face! And Albo with his fake, fixed smile. It’s nice to have a good laugh first thing in the morning,’ they wrote.
Australia’s Ambassador to the US had accompanied Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to his first proper meeting with Trump before things took a turn
In 2020, Rudd stated on social media that he considered Trump the ‘most destructive’ president in US history.
‘He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and the Bible to justify violence,’ he wrote.
‘All aided and abetted by Murdoch’s FoxNews Network in America which feeds this.’
He deleted those comments in November 2024 after Trump’s election win, explaining it was ‘out of respect’ for the office of the president.
In other media and social media remarks, Rudd labelled Trump ‘nuts’ and a ‘traitor to the West’.
When these remarks were brought to Trump’s attention by British interviewer Nigel Farage in March 2024, Trump returned fire saying he had heard Mr Rudd was ‘nasty’ and ‘not the brightest bulb’.
Albanese has been critical of Trump in the past – but it was all pleasantries when they met as he flattered the president for his foreign policy initiatives, including the tenuous Middle East peace deal.
In turn, Trump mocked his predecessor, Joe Biden – who had a warm rapport with Albanese when he first came into office.
Albanese has been critical of Trump in the past – but it was all pleasantries when they met as the Australian prime minister flattered the President for his foreign policy initiatives, including the tenuous Middle East peace deal
Before bringing Albanese into the Cabinet Room, Trump showed him his ‘Presidential Walk of Fame,’ which mocks Biden by depicting the Democrat as an autopen.
Once inside the meeting, Albanese invited Trump to come to Australia, which the President said he would ‘consider.’
Trump said he had previously visited the country and golfed there.
Biden pulled out of his planned trip to Australia in 2023 to return to Washington, DC, as Congress was holding negotiations over lifting the debt ceiling.
Trump has been slow to get a meeting with Albanese scheduled, despite the countries being close allies and Australia’s involvement in the AUKUS submarine deal.
The US President was supposed to meet with Albanese on the sidelines of the G7 summit in June in Canada – but Trump cut his appearance short and rushed back to America to deal with fighting between Israel and Iran.
The two men met briefly at an event at the UN General Assembly last month, but Monday’s trip to the White House officially marked the two leaders’ first meeting.
In the Cabinet Room, Trump brought along Vice-President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
