Kevin Rudd deletes comments criticizing Donald Trump after winning the US presidential election

Kevin Rudd is removing previous statements about US President-elect Donald Trump before becoming ambassador to Washington, as Australia tries to secure a strong relationship with the new US administration.

Dr. Rudd’s office released a statement saying he had been a regular commentator on American politics during his previous position as chairman of the Asia Society, an American think tank.

“Out of respect for the office of the President of the United States and following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has now removed these earlier comments from his personal website and social media channels,” the statement said.

“This was done to avoid the possibility that such comments could be misinterpreted as reflecting his position as ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian government.”

“If he’s hostile at all, he won’t be there for long,” Mr. Trump said.

The comments sparked months of speculation about Dr Rudd’s future as ambassador to the US, a post he has held for just 20 months.

Labor hopes past criticism of Mr Trump, including from current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will not hurt efforts to build ties with the new US administration.

Mr. Albanese said in 2017 that Mr. Trump “scared the hell out of me” and other colleagues publicly criticized the president’s character and policies during his first term.

Home Secretary Claire O’Neill last year called Donald Trump’s son a “big baby” after he complained about visa delays entering Australia.

The post was quickly deleted.

Mr Albanese also chided then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison for aligning himself so closely with Mr Trump.

Mr Albanese on Thursday reiterated his support for Dr Rudd to remain in the post, despite earlier comments which included claims Mr Trump was “the most destructive president in history”.

“Kevin Rudd is doing an excellent job as Australia’s ambassador to the United States,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong pointed to Dr. Rudd’s record in office, including helping Congress pass the legislation that made the AUKUS submarine deal possible.

“(We were) very pleased to see some of the changes that have been made with bipartisan support, the support of the AUKUS Republican Party. Kevin has worked very hard with the rest of the team at the embassy to achieve this,” she said.

Asked about the Senate’s assessment, Senator Wong described Mr Rudd as a “very respected person” and a “very effective ambassador”.

“We think he has exactly the experience you want as an ambassador in this most critical relationship,” she said, highlighting Mr Rudd’s world-renowned experience with China.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Simon Birmingham asked why Mr Rudd waited until Mr Trump won the election to erase the trail of the provocative comments, instead of removing them when he was appointed US ambassador in March 2023.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Ian Adams said Mr Rudd had decided to remove the statements out of “respect for the position of president”.

“There has been a significant change in circumstances because former President Trump is now president-elect as well,” she said.

Mr Rudd made the decision himself and not at the request of DFAT, Ms Adams said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton cited Mr Rudd’s reputation as a workaholic when considering how he would prepare to represent Australia.

“You know K-Rudd as well as I do — he’ll be at the tie store, he’ll be buying red ties, he’ll be buying red hats, he’ll be ordering those MAGA hats. He will do everything he can to interest himself in the Trump campaign,” he told 2GB radio.