Dutton claims PM ‘misrepresented’ earlier comments about Rudd’s performance as US ambassador – as it happened

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The Republican candidate for the US presidency, former president Donald Trump, has had a few things to say about former Australian prime minister and current US ambassador Kevin Rudd.

Trump spoke to UK conservative Nigel Farage on GB News, saying if Rudd is hostile he will not be there long":

The Aukus deal that is in place, America, you know, the UK, Australia, very, very important deal, it is there to try and combat that huge growth in China. But now of course things have changed in Australia, we have a Labor government in Australia. The previous ambassador, Joe Hockey, I think was quite a good friend of yours, you got on pretty well with him. Now they have appointed Kevin Rudd. Former Labor MP, an he has said the most horrible things, you were a destructive president, a traitor to the west, and he is now Australia's ambassador in Washington. Would you [take a phone call from him?]"

Yeah, well don't know. He won't there be long if that is the case. I don't know much about him. I heard he was a little nasty. I heard he's not the brightest bulb. I don't know much about him, but he won't be there long if he is at all hostile.