The former prime minister will have served three years in the ambassador role, including 14 months as an emissary to the Trump Administration.

Relations between the two men have not been smooth due to Rudd’s past criticism of the US President.

IDIOT

In 2024, video of a 2021 interview emerged in which Rudd described Mr Trump as “a village idiot” and “not a leading intellectual force”.

Before that, he wrote on social media that Trump was the “most destructive president” in US history and a “traitor to the West”.

During a meeting between Messrs Albanese and Trump in October 2025, at which Rudd was present, the US president was asked by the media about his reaction to the ambassador’s past comments.

“I don’t know anything about him. If he said bad things, maybe he’d like to apologise. I really don’t know,” he said.

When Rudd acknowledged that he did make those comments before assuming the ambassador role, Trump told him, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will”.

Rudd later reportedly apologised to the president off camera, to which Trump replied: “All is forgiven.”

Following the meeting, the Opposition called for Mr Rudd to be removed from his position. However, this was rejected by PM Albanese who praised Rudd as an “outstanding” ambassador, saying that he “works his guts out”.

WONG

Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have issued a statement thanking Ambassador Rudd for his “tireless contribution to our national interests over the last three years in Washington”.

They also listed out several of his achievements in the role, including securing bipartisan Congressional support for AUKUS, negotiating and concluding the Critical Minerals & Rare Earths Framework Agreement with the United States, and working to secure Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s return to Australia.

During a press conference Last week, Ms Wong said Rudd’s work had helped strengthen the Australian economy and security for “decades to come”.

“I have seen first-hand just how hard he works, not just over the last three years, but throughout his public life. He’s always brought an extraordinary level of energy and discipline to public service,” she said.

“He applied his relentless effort, his experience, intellect and determination to advance Australia’s interests in Washington, and has served the nation well.”