Australia news and politics live: Trump says AUKUS is ‘moving rapidly’, signs critical minerals deal

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has downplayed US President Donald Trump’s recent comment about Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd, describing it as a light-hearted remark.

“I think those comments were clearly tongue in cheek,” Wong told ABC’s AM program on Tuesday.

She went on to praise Mr Rudd’s performance, highlighting his role in securing a key meeting and advancing Australia’s interests.

“Kevin did an extremely good job, not only in getting the meeting but doing the work on the critical minerals deal and AUKUS... the success of meeting reflects that work,” she said.

Kevin Rudd has reportedly offered an apology to Donald Trump following a tense exchange at the White House.

During a Q&A session in the Cabinet Room, Mr Trump responded sharply after a reporter highlighted Mr Rudd’s past criticisms of him, saying, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will”.

According to reports, Mr Rudd approached the US President at the conclusion of the meeting to apologise.

In response, it is understood Mr Trump said, “All is forgiven”.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has welcomed the critical minerals deal signed by Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump, but says there is a lot more detail that needs to be unpacked.

“This is just the first step, and we see approvals and investment grinding to a halt in this country because of this Government’s approach to environmental approvals.

“We see a critical pipeline of investment drying up. We will need that investment to come to the fore to make this a success, and indeed to make all of the other projects that Australia’s national interest and national income depends on.”

Ms Ley also said it was an “interesting reflection by Albanese that he was basking in that level of praise and involving the President in a future election campaign.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called for Kevin Rudd to resign from his position as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, following his tense exchange with Donald Trump at the White House.

“Kevin Rudd really was the elephant in the room,” she told Sky News on Tuesday morning.

“It’s a bit awkward, isn’t it? It’s taken nearly a year to get this meeting, and that’s been a failure of the Ambassador.”

Ms Ley pointed to the moment during the meeting when Mr Trump publicly rebuked Mr Rudd, saying, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will,” after being reminded of Mr Rudd’s past criticisms.

“And when the Ambassador is the punchline of a joke and the Prime Minister is actually laughing at him, I think that tells us all we need to know about the fact that it’s probably not reasonable that he continue in this role.”

In response to The Nightly’s questions, US President Trump said he was considering visiting Australia, after being invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“I actually have been to Australia and I did play on one of your great golf courses,” he said.

“I’ve been invited to go and I’ll have to give it serious consideration. It’s a real possibility.”

Mr Albanese suggested Mr Trump could time the visit to coincide with the President’s Cup which Australia is due to host in 2028, toward the end of the President’s second term.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken to social media to thank US President Donald Trump for his “warm welcome” at the White House.

“Working together we can deliver for both Australia and the United States,” Mr Albanese said.

During the visit, it appears Mr Trump gave the PM a tour of his newly unveiled Presidential Wall of Fame, an installation that has drawn attention for featuring an image of an autopen in place of Joe Biden’s portrait.

US President Donald Trump has affirmed his support to the AUKUS defence pact.

“It was made a while go and nobody did anything about it,” Mr Trump said.

“It was going too slowly. We do actually have a lot of submarines, we have the best submarines anywhere in the world.“

“We’re building a few more currently under construction and now we have it all set.

“With Anthony we’ve worked on this long and hard. We’re starting that process right now. I think it’s really moving along very rapidly, very well.“

The more than $300 billion trilateral agreement had been under review by the US Defense Department to ensure it aligned with the “America first” agenda of the Trump Administration.

Donald Trump has declared he does not like Kevin Rudd and “never will”, in a sensational verbal lashing of Australia’s ambassador, delivered straight to his face.

Hosting Anthony Albanese and his Australian delegation at the White House, the US President was asked if he was “concerned” by Mr Rudd’s past remarks.

Before becoming Australia’s envoy in Washington, the former PM had called Mr Trump a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West”.

“You said bad things?” Mr Trump asked.

“Before I took this position, Mr President,” Mr Rudd replied, before Mr Trump cut him off.

“I don’t like you and I probably never will,” Mr Trump said.

US President Donald Trump has hailed his friendship with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during talks at the White House as the two leaders signed an agreement on rare earth and critical minerals.

“This is an $8.5 billion pipeline that we have ready to go,” Mr Albanese said while signing a deal that Mr Trump added had been negotiated over a period of four or five months.

The agreement involved the processing of minerals, the leaders said.

The US President was enthusiastic in his praise for Mr Albanese during the meeting.

“We’ve been long term, long time allies, and I would say there’s never been anybody better,” Mr Trump said.

“We fought wars together, we never had any doubts, and it’s a great honour to have you as my friend.”

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