EDITORIAL: As Rudd zips, it’s time for a cleanskin in Washington

As Kevin Rudd prepares to depart the Australian ambassador’s residence in Washington DC to return to his old gig as head of New York-based think tank Asia Society, most reflections on his time as our nation’s point man with our most important ally have centred on one central theme: it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

Many predicted Donald Trump’s second coming as US President would — or should — have meant the end of Mr Rudd’s ambassadorship.

The President — and many of those close to him within his administration — can hold a grudge, and it was made clear the former Australian Prime Minister’s comments describing Mr Trump variously as “the most destructive president in history”, a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West” hadn’t been forgotten.

Mr Rudd battled on in spite of the doubters, including through an excruciating awkward meeting at the White House, at which Anthony Albanese — and the world’s media — were there to witness Mr Trump telling Mr Rudd, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”

To Mr Rudd’s credit, the evident hostility between the two men proved not to be the insurmountable challenge many feared.

Australia has not been able to leverage our historically close relationship with the US to entirely escape Mr Trump’s trade agenda, with most Australian exports to the US subject to Mr Trump’s “liberation day” 10 per cent baseline levy.

But that hasn’t stopped the US from needing to import things, and because the tariffs on Australian goods are subject to the least-worst tariffs, the regime has paradoxically given many of our local exporters an edge.

The timing of Mr Rudd’s departure is curious. Mr Trump had taken his pound of flesh from Mr Rudd in the form of a public humiliation, so why not just ride out the next year until the conclusion of his term?

Mr Albanese said Mr Rudd’s decision to return to his new/old job — which comes with a heftier pay packet but a drop in prestige — was entirely his own.

That is no doubt the case, but it appears Mr Albanese didn’t bother trying to convince his old boss to stay either.

That he didn’t is a tacit recognition that it was in the national interest for Mr Rudd to move on and for someone new — without the baggage — to step into the role.

So who is next to step into the world of Rose Garden luncheons and Washington fairways?

Former Labor frontbenchers Joel Fitzgibbon, Stephen Conroy and Greg Combet are reported to be among the frontrunners, though Mr Conroy would be an unnecessary risk given he once described Mr Trump as “moronically stupid”.

Whoever gets the nod will need a hefty dose of tact and charm. A single-digit handicap wouldn’t hurt either.

Meanwhile, Mr Rudd will soon be free from the shackles of polite diplomacy which have stilled his acid tongue these past years. It can’t be long before we hear his true thoughts on our nation’s most important relationship.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.