Kevin Rudd will finish up as Australia’s ambassador to the United States at the end of March, a year earlier than expected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement this morning, saying the decision was “entirely” Rudd’s following a three-year posting.
“Kevin Rudd has a work ethic unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” Albanese said.
“He sees this as a continuation of his public service, not just to Australia but to the global community.
“On behalf of our nation, we thank Kevin for his service to Australia, and for taking forward Australia’s interests with our closest security ally.”
Rudd said he would remain in the USA to take up a role as president and chief executive of the Asia Society think tank.
“It has been an honour to serve as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States over the last three years,” he said in a statement on X.
“I thank the prime minister and the foreign minister for their kind remarks today.”
While the government has praised several of Rudd’s achievements during his posting, his tenure also attracted controversy.
The former prime minister had made comments on social media criticising Donald Trump before his re-election – and before Rudd’s own appointment as ambass.
Rudd deleted the posts after Trump’s re-election, but they led to an awkward moment during Albanese’s otherwise successful state visit to the United States last year.
A reporter asked Trump if the reason it took nine months to organise a meeting with Albanese was because of Rudd’s previous comments.
Trump said he didn’t “know anything about” who the reporter was referring to and asked Albanese where Rudd was and if he still worked for him.
When Albanese pointed out Rudd sitting across from Trump at the cabinet table, Trump asked the ambassador if he “said bad”, to which Rudd replied, “before I took this position, Mr President”.
“I don’t like you either and I probably never will,” Trump replied.
Rudd later apologised to Trump for his previous remarks off-camera.
“All is forgiven,” Trump is reported to have said.
AUKUS and Julian Assange high points of tenure
Rudd oversaw several key moments between Australia and the United States during his time as ambassador.
During his posting, the AUKUS was given Trump’s backing despite concerns raised by a Pentagon review, with the US president confirming Australia will be supplied with nuclear-powered submarines.
The two countries also signed an $8.5 billion rare earths deal during the October state visit in an attempt to break China’s stranglehold on the industry.
Rudd was also involved in returning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Australia in 2024.
Assange, who spent five years in prison in the United Kingdom and seven more in asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London while facing the threat of extradition to the United States, was freed after a plea deal was reached in 2024, allowing him to return home.
Rudd will officially finish his posting on March 31.
His replacement is yet to be announced.
