Kevin Rudd says Australia ready to work with Donald Trump, J.D. Vance if they win November’s election

Milwaukee: One-time Donald Trump critic Kevin Rudd says Australia stands ready to work with the Republican nominee and his chosen running mate J.D. Vance if they win November’s election, denouncing the assassination attempt on Trump as a repugnant attack on democracy.

Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Australia’s ambassador to the US also revealed he has “what I would describe as a texting relationship” with Vance, and had contacted the Ohio Senator after Trump was almost killed last Saturday to convey his concern about the shocking event.

Asked by this masthead what he thought of the 39-year-old Hillbilly Elegy author – a former “never Trump guy” who transformed into a full-throated MAGA loyalist on everything from abortion and election denialism, to military aide for Ukraine – Rudd replied: “That’s, of course, a matter for American domestic political opinion.

“But I’d say this: if the American people decide to elect President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, the Australian government stands ready to work with them, openly, constructively and positively. And we’re confident we can do that,” he added.

The comments came a day after Trump and Vance were formally endorsed as the Republican candidates for the White House, and mark the first time the former prime minister has publicly addressed the moment when Trump learnt about past comments Rudd had made, in which he referred to the Republican as “nuts”, a “traitor to the west” and “the most destructive president in history”.

Loading

“He won’t be there long if that’s the case,” Trump had replied, when told about Rudd’s comments by former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage during an interview on Britain’s right-leaning GB News.

“I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb. But I don’t know much about him. But if, if he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long.”

Asked if he was concerned about his future in Washington if Trump becomes president again, Rudd said he did not wish to add to the issue, other than to say: “I think you’ll note that a whole range of people over time have had a range of interesting things to say about President Trump, including John Howard, including Tony Abbott, including others.”