Defence Minister Richard Marles stands by Australian Ambassador to US Kevin Rudd amid questions over Trump-Albanese no show
Defence Minister Richard Marles has denied that anti-US comments from Ambassador Kevin Rudd or campaign rhetoric from the Labor Party damaged the Canberra-Washington relationship.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been so far unable to meet with US President Donald Trump, despite other countries holding multiple bilateral engagements.
He has also not heard directly from President Trump since their scheduled meeting at the G7 was cancelled, even though other leaders received phone calls.
The Australian Ambassador to the US had arranged the meeting after months of effort, despite his previously frosty relationship with President Trump.
Asked by Sky News Sunday Agenda whether Mr Rudd's past criticisms may have hindered diplomatic efforts, Mr Marles denied such a possibility.
'Kevin Rudd is doing a fantastic job as our Ambassador in the United States. He has a wide range of contacts across the political spectrum,' Mr Marles said.
'And no, I don't accept the second assertion… in relation to the election campaign,' he said.
During the federal election campaign, Labor repeatedly warned against 'American-style' politics under a potential Peter Dutton government.
Education Minister Jason Clare labelled Mr Dutton's 'extreme' agenda as reminiscent of President Trump.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong cautioned against the 'Americanisation' of education under Mr Dutton.
Health Minister Mark Butler warned that Mr Dutton would 'reach into the Republican political playbook' to slash health workers.
Most recently, Cabinet Minister Clare O'Neil described the US as inferior to Australia, suggesting the US doesn't take care of its citizens.
Despite this, Mr Marles said, 'We treat the American relationship with the deepest of respect, and that's irrespective of who sits in the White House.'
The Defence Minister insisted that the alliance remained solid and that high-level ministerial and official engagement with the US was ongoing.
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan told Sky News Sunday Agenda that more needed to be done to secure a face-to-face between President Trump and Mr Albanese.
'We really need to see a redoubling of the efforts to get that meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump,' Mr Tehan said.
'Kevin Rudd deserves a chance to be the ambassador and to do his job and do it to the best of his ability.'
'We really need to see the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Defence Minister, and the Trade Minister all working tirelessly to support the Ambassador.'
Previous comments by Mr Rudd and members of the Albanese government have raised concerns about the impact on the diplomatic relationship.
Mr Rudd came under scrutiny recently for previous comments calling Trump a 'traitor to the West' and a 'village idiot'.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have also made similarly unkind comments about the US leader.
Ms Wong was filmed saying the incoming US President was 'prepared to trash alliances and partnerships for personal political interest' in 2021.
Mr Albanese was filmed saying, '(Trump) scares the shit out of me' and 'we've got to deal with him' during a Q&A in 2017.
Despite their cancelled G7 meeting, Mr Albanese did meet with key members of the Trump administration in Canada.
He held two twenty-minute meetings with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
'We are very optimistic about how we maintain and keep advancing that (US-Australia) relationship,' Mr Marles said.
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