Dutton questions Rudd’s diplomatic future after Trump names loyalist as Deputy Chief of Staff

Peter Dutton, the opposition leader in Australia, has ramped up pressure on Kevin Rudd following the appointment of Dan Scavino, a close aide of Donald Trump, as the incoming president-elect’s deputy chief of staff. This move has reignited concerns about Rudd’s effectiveness as Australia’s ambassador to the United States, particularly given the tension between the former Australian prime minister and the incoming US administration.

Dutton, previously offering some support for Rudd’s appointment, now suggests that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s choice to appoint Rudd as ambassador was a “captain’s pick” that has put the Australian government in a difficult position. He raised the possibility that if the government were to recall Rudd, it would create a dilemma regarding other ministers, particularly Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who had also been critical of Trump in the past.

The controversy intensified this week when Scavino shared a congratulatory tweet from Rudd to Trump, accompanied by an hourglass GIF, implying that Rudd’s time in the role might be limited. Rudd had previously deleted tweets from the past that fiercely criticized Trump, including calling him a “traitor to the West” and the “most destructive president in history,” further fueling speculation about his diplomatic viability under the new administration.

Despite ongoing support from some members of the Coalition, including Foreign Affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham, who hopes that Trump will extend “forgiveness” to Rudd, the opposition has shifted its stance, questioning the wisdom of Albanese’s decision to appoint Rudd.

As Rudd’s future in Washington becomes more uncertain, Dutton’s remarks reflect growing unease within the opposition about the potential fallout from a diplomatic appointment that may have misjudged the political landscape of the United States