Nat Barr asks the brutal question on many minds about the future of Kevin Rudd after Trump threatened to increase tariffs on Australia

By CHARLOTTE MCINTYRE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 23:19 BST, 1 June 2025 | Updated: 23:53 BST, 1 June 2025

Sunrise host Nat Barr has questioned whether it’s time for Kevin Rudd to be axed from his role as US ambassador following Donald Trump’s plan to further increase tariffs.

Trump has announced he will raise the tariff on steel imported into the US from 25 per cent to 50 per cent from June 4.

‘Should we axe Kevin Rudd from the US and move him on and would we get further with Trump?’ Barr asked Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Monday.

The Sunrise guests clashed on Rudd’s effectiveness as US ambassador. 

Plibersek said Rudd has been ‘extraordinarily active’ and developed ‘excellent’ relationships with both Republicans and Democrats.

‘You know that he’s hardworking. He’s got enormous capacity. He’s an excellent ambassador, and at the end of the day, Australia chooses our ambassadors,’ Plibersek said. 

‘We don’t allow other countries to choose our ambassadors for us.’

‘But they choose whether they want to talk to them or not and that’s the problem,’ Joyce hit back.

Nat Barr (pictured) questioned whether Kevin should keep his position as US ambassador following Donald Trump’s decision to further raise tariffs

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said Kevin Rudd (pictured) had developed ‘excellent’ relationships with both Republicans and Democrats

Joyce accused Rudd of ‘not kicking a goal’ in the US because he’s been unable to secure a better deal.

‘I’m not saying he’s a bad ambassador, but he’s not suited for the United States …,’ Joyce said. 

‘The prime minister should be adroit enough to say “Kevin you’re off to London” and someone else is off to the United States.’

Plibersek argued Anthony Albanese’s government is working to secure access for Australian steel manufacturers to the US market.

She also noted the government has recently signed a trade deal with the United Arab Emirates.

Trump’s latest announcement comes after his ‘Liberation Day tariffs’, which saw Australia hit with a 10 per cent tariff on all imports to the US as part of a global tariff regime.

He announced plans to increase the tariff on steel imported into the US during a speech to workers at a U.S. Steel owned plant in West Mifflin, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

US President Donald Trump (pictured) will increase the tariff on steel imported into the United States from 25 per cent to 50 per cent

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce clashed after Sunrise host Nat Barr asked if Kevin Rudd should be axed

The increased tariffs will take effect on June 4. Trump later said on Truth Social that it will also apply to aluminium imported into the US.

‘We’re imposing a 25 per cent increase. We’re going to bring it to 50 per cent, the tariffs on steel into America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States,’ Trump told the crowd of workers. 

Trade Minister Don Farrell said the new hike was ‘unjustified’ and ‘not the act of a friend’, and Australia would continue to oppose the tariffs.

‘They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade. We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs,’ he said.

Australia’s total steel exports were worth $1.76billion in 2024, while aluminium was worth $5.7billion. Of this, $370million worth of iron and steel, and $430million worth of aluminium went to the US, according to the United Nations Comtrade database.

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Nat Barr asks the brutal question on many minds about the future of Kevin Rudd after Trump threatened to increase tariffs on Australia

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