Penny Wong weighs into Kevin Rudd debate after Donald Trump declared he is ‘not the brightest bulb’

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is standing by Kevin Rudd, saying he will remain in Washington as Australia’s ambassador after Donald Trump declared he is “not the brightest bulb”.

Mr Trump suggested the former Labor prime minister would not be welcome in the US as ambassador if he returns to power in the November presidential election due to previous personal attacks Mr Rudd made on him.

Senator Wong said she believed the situation was not impossible to overcome, arguing Mr Rudd was doing an “excellent job” in advancing the nation’s interests in America.

“Mr Rudd is a very effective ambassador, he is recognised across his Parliament as doing an excellent job in advancing Australia’s interests in the United States,” Senator Wong said.

“He has been active in engaging with members of Congress on both sides of politics and he is a former prime minister, former foreign minister, is experienced and skills mean he is able to work closely with whoever is elected by the American people.”

The Foreign Minister noted the “phenomenal amount of work” he had done in furthering the AUKUS pact and was working effectively with Republicans.

“He’s been extremely active in engaging with members of Congress on both sides of politics,” she said.

“He is a former prime minister, a former foreign minister, his experience and skills mean he will be able to work closely with whoever is elected by the American people as the United States president.”

Mr Rudd was appointed ambassador to the US by the Albanese Government in March 2023.

In an interview with Nigel Farage for GB News, Mr Trump said he didn’t know much about Mr Rudd but that he had heard he was “a little bit nasty”.

“I hear he is not the brightest bulb but I don’t know much about him. If he is at all hostile he will not be there long,” Mr Trump said.

The comments came after Farage, a former Brexit party leader, listed off a number of things Mr Rudd reportedly said before he became ambassador about Trump being “destructive to the West” and a “traitor to the US”.