‘We’re ready’: Rudd defiant amid ousting threat

Kevin Rudd says Australia is “ready” to deal with Donald Trump amid questions over the former Labor prime minister’s future as Australia’s ambassador in Washington.

In a prerecorded address to a forum in Sydney on Wednesday, the envoy said Mr Trump’s historic second White House win was “important for Australia” and that the embassy in Washington had been “working hard” to prepare for it.

“The election of the president of the United States is an important moment for the world,” Mr Rudd told the Sydney International Strategy Forum.

“It’s important for our region. It’s important for Australia.

“Here at the embassy, we’ve been working hard through the course of the last year to ensure that we were well prepared for this moment. And the bottom line is, we’re ready.”

Mr Rudd said Australia’s relationship with the US “has gone from strength to strength” across the board, from defence co-operation and strategic alignment to trade ties and technology sharing.

“This is no accident,” he said.

“Our nations have worked together to ensure our partnership remains strong into the future and continues to build prosperity, avert conflict and sustain the peace.”

Australia, along with other Western allies, have been wondering where they fit into Mr Trump’s America first agenda.

With threats of tariffs on foreign imports looming, diplomats have been working overtime trying to position their countries favourably with the US president-elect.

But Mr Rudd’s past criticisms of the Mr Trump have sparked questions about his viability as Australia’s top representative in Washington.

He has said Mr Trump was a “village idiot”, “nuts”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

“If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” the incoming president said in an interview earlier this year.

A top Trump aide also suggested Mr Rudd’s time was running out, publicly sending him GIF of an hourglass on social media.

Though, Mr Trump is no stranger to criticism, with even his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, once likening him to Adolf Hitler.

The Albanese government has stood by Mr Rudd, crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS and Australia-US trade.

The Coalition has also officially thrown its support behind Mr Rudd.