Kevin Rudd has finally broken his silence on his fiery clash with Donald Trump, as the former Australian Prime Minister made a surprise appearance in Canberra. 

Trump singled out Rudd in an awkward moment during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s high-stakes visit to the White House last week, highlighting past disparaging remarks about the US President. 

In what was otherwise a friendly meeting, the president was curt with Australia’s Ambassador to the US, after he found out he had said ‘bad’ things about him.

‘Did an ambassador say something bad? Where is he? Is he still working for you?’  he said as Albanese nodded and pointed across the table at Rudd.

‘Before I took this position, Mr President,’ Rudd clarified, to which Trump shot back: ‘I don’t like you either, and I probably never will’. 

Trump did not let the issue go, saying on Friday: ‘When they say bad about me, I don’t forget’. 

Rudd was asked about the exchange on Tuesday and remained diplomatic.

‘What I would say is that I’m from America and I’m here to help, and my name is Kevin,’ he told reporters. 

Rudd was attending an American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) event at Parliament House alongside Trade Minister Don Farrell. 

The former prime minister made it clear his focus remained firmly on business.

‘We’re speaking to a gathering of Australian businesses who want to do a lot of investment and trade with the United States,’ he said. 

‘That’s what we’re here to do.’ 

He refused to be drawn into further political drama when pressed by reporters. 

‘The Prime Minister had an excellent meeting with the President of the United States,’ Rudd said.

In 2020, Rudd stated on social media that he considered Trump the ‘most destructive’ president in US history.

He deleted those comments in November 2024 after Trump’s re-election, explaining it was ‘out of respect’ for the office of the president.

In a surprising twist, former prime minister Tony Abbott has praised the appointment of his former political rival Rudd and downplayed Trump’s comments. 

‘Kevin was actually a pretty shrewd appointment,’ Abbott said on his podcast Australia’s Future.

‘While the Donald did express rather dismissive sentiments about him, I thought it was really more political theatre than anything to worry about.’

Abbott credited Rudd for helping secure the $13billion strategic minerals deal. 

‘Albo was on holidays the week before the meeting,’ he said. 

‘Kevin, I’m sure, was pounding the corridors of the Capitol, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for this deal.’

Despite earlier calls from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to reconsider Rudd’s appointment, Albanese has stood firmly by his ambassador.

Rudd’s term as ambassador to the United States ends in 2027.