Australian ambassador to US deleted messages about ‘destructive’ Trump ahead of election win, report says

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the United States, deleted tweets criticizing Donald Trump in the campaign’s final week. open image in gallery Kevin Rudd previously served as prime minister of Australia He congratulated Trump on his election victory in a statement posted on X: “Australians and Americans are long-standing friends, partners and allies. These deep bonds of true and enduring friendship between us will also shape our common future.” The statement continued: “Australia looks forward to working closely with President Trump and his Administration on the challenges and opportunities that our two great democracies and the wider world will face in the years ahead.” When asked by The Sydney Morning Herald about the deleted social media posts, Rudd’s office said in a statement that he had been “a regular commentator on American politics” while working at a US-based think tank and that comments had been removed “out of respect for the office of President of the United States, and following the election of President Trump.” “This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian government,” the statement continued. “Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance.” open image in gallery Donald Trump posed with a Bible outside of St. John’s Church in Washington, DC following Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020 In an interview with UK Member of Parliament Nigel Farage in March, Trump responded to some of Rudd’s comments.