US President Donald Trump on Monday confronted Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd who criticised him in the past, shortly after he signed a multibillion-dollar agreement on rare-earth and critical minerals
with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“Did an ambassador say something bad about me?” Trump asked Albanese, who was sitting next to him, when a journalist brought up the Australian Ambassador’s earlier remarks criticizing him. “Where is he? Is he still working for you?,” he further asked Albanese.
Albanese replied that Rudd — a former prime minister and Australia’s top diplomat in Washington since 2023 — was seated across the table, prompting Trump to follow up, “You said bad?”
🚨 Funniest. President. EVER.
REPORTER: The Australian ambassador said something bad about you.
TRUMP: Where is he? You said something bad?
AMBASSADOR: Before I took this position…
TRUMP: I don’t like YOU either. I probably NEVER WILL!
*Room erupts in laughter* 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/cVvnplejds
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 20, 2025
As the Ambassador began to explain that he had made the reparks before assuming his diplomatic post, saying, “Before I took this position, Mr. President,” Trump cut him off mid-sentence.
“I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will,” Trump told Rudd before asking a reporter to ask another question.