Why the identity of the Aussie who wrote THAT Donald Trump question to Kevin Rudd will infuriate the ex-prime minister
Former Prime Minister turned Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd is furious after finding the culprit behind a question that highlighted his brutal attacks on Donald Trump’s ego – which may have cost him his job.
Mr Trump sat down for an interview with Britain’s GB News on Tuesday, during which host Nigel Farage recalled Mr Rudd previously saying the Republican leader was a “traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history”.
Trump told Farage: “I don’t know, if that’s the case he won’t be around much longer.
‘I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a bit mean. I hear it’s not the brightest bulb. If he’s at all hostile, he won’t stay there much longer.’
A question to Donald Trump highlighting negative comments made by US Ambassador to Australia Kevin Rudd (centre) was previously orchestrated by News Corp
Trump (pictured) was told during an interview with GB News on Tuesday that Rudd called him a ‘traitor to the West’ and ‘the most destructive president in history’
With his job potentially untenable if Mr Trump is re-elected in November, Mr Rudd has discovered that an old enemy has orchestrated the issue: News Corp.
Current GB News boss Angelos Frangopoulos previously led News Corp.-owned Sky News Australia.
So, as he prepared for the Trump interview, Frangopoulos contacted the new head of Sky News Australia, Paul Whittaker, to figure out a way to attract an Australian audience.
It’s clear that Whittaker himself drafted the question calling out Rudd.
Mr Rudd launched his war against Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp empire in 2020 by calling for a Royal Commission into media diversity in Australia.
In a contribution to the Senate, he labeled News Corp as a ‘cancer for democracy’.
Now, after News Corp’s brazen counter-move and Mr Rudd facing the very real possibility of Trump being re-elected this year, his diplomatic skills will be put to the test.
During Friday’s interview, Farage reminded Trump of how Mr Rudd called him “crazies” before he was appointed to his diplomatic role as a bridge between Canberra and Washington in March 2023.
Farage said: ‘Things have changed in Australia. We have a Labor government. The previous ambassador, Joe Hockey, I think was a very good friend of yours. Now they have appointed Kevin Rudd.
“He said the most terrible things – you were a destructive president, a traitor to the West – and he is now Australia’s ambassador to Washington.”
In one of his now infamous tweets, Mr Rudd wrote: “(Trump) is dragging America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on stoking division, not healing it.
“He abuses Christianity, the church and the Bible to justify violence.”
The question, which questions Rudd’s job if Trump is re-elected in November, was written by Sky News Australia boss Paul Whittaker (pictured)
Rudd, who launched a war against News Corp in 2020, has previously criticized Trump in a series of tweets (one photo)
Trump’s threats that Mr Rudd “won’t be around for long” marked the first time the former president had publicly mentioned him.
If Trump wins the presidential election in November, Rudd’s comments could strain Australia’s relationship with the US.
However, it appears the potential problems of working with a Trump administration have already dawned on Mr Rudd, who began trying to mend his ties with the former president in January.
Mr Rudd reportedly told a forum in Davos that there was “some danger of overestimating the extent of the damage Trump had done during his presidency.”
The lame admission is a sharp reversal from Rudd’s previous comments, including accusing Trump of “rancid treason.”
Fortunately for Mr Rudd, there are some who believe his job could survive when Trump enters the country again White House.
Joe Hockey, the US ambassador to Australia during Trump’s presidency, told The Australian that Rudd’s tough stance on China would likely appeal to a Republican government.
“I think if Donald Trump is elected, on day one he will have a long list of people he wants to take revenge against. Kevin Rudd is not one of them,” Hockey said.
“His credentials as a China hawk will outweigh the criticism he previously had (of Trump) and he has also reached out to all sides of the Republican Party, that’s the truth.”
Mr Rudd also has the support of Foreign Secretary Penny Wong, who told reporters on Wednesday that Labor would retain him as US ambassador if Trump is re-elected.
‘Mr Rudd is a highly effective ambassador who is recognized by the whole of Parliament does an excellent job at it advancing Australian interests in the United States,” she said.
Mr Rudd acknowledged there will always be “disagreement” between diplomats and governments.
Trump said Rudd’s position in Washington ‘he won’t be there long’ after hearing criticism from former Australian prime minister
Rudd has already begun efforts to repair his relationship with Trump (pictured), admitting in January that there was ‘some danger in overestimating the extent of the damage Trump had done during his presidency’
‘That is the normal course of diplomacy. Usually we only conduct them privately,” he previously told News Corp.
He added that he was willing to meet with Trump but admitted he had not made direct contact.
“The last thing you want to do as a candidate is waste your time with a bunch of well-meaning foreign diplomats,” Rudd said.