Kevin Rudd reveals his opinion on Donald Trump after stepping down as ambassador to US

Australia’s former ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has described President Donald Trump as “an interesting sort of fellow to deal with” in one of his first major interviews since leaving his post in Washington.

Mr Rudd, a former prime minister, left his role as Australia’s top diplomat in the US in late March, some five months after Mr Trump publicly lambasted him at the White House over past criticisms.

That encounter did not play a role in his decision to cut the posting short, according to Mr Rudd, despite Anthony Albanese extending his term.

In an interview aired overnight, Mr Rudd acknowledged the “exchanges on live global television during Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to the US last October” but insisted advancing the Australia-US relationship was not only a matter for the White House.

“But by and large, if you are focused about the national interest that you wish to advance with the US administration, as we have been with AUKUS, as we have been with critical minerals, as we have been with trade, as we have been with critical technologies, you can make progress because the administration is wider, deeper and broader than the White House itself,” he told the ABC’s 7.30.

Mr Rudd added that it was important to put the relationship in broader context, saying “we’ve had this important relationship to the United States for more than 100 years”.

“President Trump’s term in office will last another two years,” Mr Rudd said.

“We need to take a long historical view of this as well.”

More to come...