Australia recalls ambassador to U.S. who had criticised Trump

Australia has recalled Kevin Rudd from his post as ambassador to the United States following his past public criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The government has recommended that Australia’s governor-general, Samantha Mostyn, appoint former defence minister Greg Moriarty as the new ambassador to Washington.

Rudd, a former Australian prime minister, had previously posted strongly worded comments on social media platform X, describing Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and accusing him of undermining U.S. democracy.

After Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Rudd deleted some of his posts and issued an apology in October 2025. Trump had earlier said he disliked the Australian ambassador.