Kevin Rudd dismissed Donald Trump’s first presidency as a period of ‘episodic craziness’ and asked a crowd in disbelief ‘how did that happen?’ in newly-unearthed video filmed less than a year before he took up his post as Australia’s man in Washington.
The former Prime Minister turned Australian Ambassador to the US has in the past labelled the President-elect a ‘village idiot’, a ‘traitor to the West’ and ‘the most destructive president in history’.
But a newly-discovered lecture recorded in June 2022 for the Asia Society, where he served as President, has now exposed how Mr Rudd never imagined that Trump would ever return to power – and how he dismissed his Presidency as a period of ‘craziness’.
‘Never take a backwards step in saying we’re allies with the United States,’ he told the stunned crowd in Switzerland.
‘For all the American pre-disposition to episodic craziness… Look at Trump: how did that happen? That was a walk on the wild side for all of us.’
Less than nine months later, Mr Rudd was controversially appointed as Australia’s ambassador to the US by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Rudd now faces the seemingly uphill task of trying to curry favour and influence with an incoming Trump administration that is actively hostile towards him due to his previous comments.
It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that one of Trump’s most senior campaign advisers, Dan Scavino Jr, gave an indication that Mr Rudd would not last long under the new administration.
A newly-unearthed lecture recorded in June 2022 for the Asia Society, where he served as President, has now exposed how Mr Rudd never imagined that Donald Trump would ever return to power
Trump has previously signalled his disapproval with Kevin Rudd, branding him ‘nasty’ and claiming he ‘will not be there long’
Sharing Mr Rudd’s congratulatory message to the new President-elect on X, Mr Scavino Jr posted an hour glass GIF to his two million followers – suggesting his days were numbered.
Although the US President ultimately has no power over the representatives different countries nominate as their ambassadors, they need to be able to work with the new administration to advance their nation’s interests.
Daily Mail Australia has since unearthed further mocking comments Mr Rudd has made about Trump that will surely come back to haunt him.
In another Asia Society lecture, recorded in 2018, the former PM was discussing the heightening tensions between the US and China under their respective leaders Xi Jingping and Trump.
‘Then enter Donald Trump. Donald as we know is not a… leading intellectual force,’ Mr Rudd said to uproarious laughter from the audience.
There are growing voices calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sack Mr Rudd and install someone else who can build a better relationship with Trump’s new administration.
Indeed, a political insider said they thought Mr Rudd could manage with Scott Morrison’s help, as his former prime ministerial colleague has kept up good relations with Trump.
‘It’s going to be difficult for Rudd – he has worked hard, with Morrison’s help, to embed himself more with Republicans in the last 18 months,’ the insider told Daily Mail Australia.
‘So people in the party respect him – but Trump is Trump.
‘I think most up on Capitol Hill yesterday would’ve said “he’ll be fine” (Rudd). But that hourglass tweet changes things a bit.’
Donald Trump (pictured with wife Melania and son Barron at a his lection victory speech) was previously labelled by former Australian PM Kevin Rudd as a ‘village idiot’ and a ‘traitor to the West’
Trump has also previously signalled his disapproval of Mr Rudd, branding him ‘nasty’.
‘I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty,’ Trump told GB News earlier this year.
‘I hear he’s not the brightest bulb, but I don’t know much about him. If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long.’
Several posts on Mr Rudd’s official X account criticising Trump were deleted last week after it became clear he would win a second term as President.
In one particularly brutal post from 2020, Mr Rudd described Trump as ‘the most destructive president in history’.
‘He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence,’ Mr Rudd wrote.
Daily Mail Australia approached the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
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