Fresh call for new US envoy after latest Trump tariff threat

Barnaby Joyce has renewed his call for a new Australian ambassador in Washington after Donald Trump pledged to hike blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50 per cent.

The Coalition attack dog said on Monday that Australia’s continued failure to secure a carve out came down to Kevin Rudd, who has been Canberra’s envoy to the US since 2023.

Mr Rudd, a former Labor prime minister, has been highly critical of the US President over the years, calling Mr Trump a “village idiot”, “nuts”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

Mr Joyce argued that while Mr Rudd was a “good guy”, he was not right for the job.

“Kevin Rudd is a good guy but he’s not kicking a goal in the United States,” the Nationals MP told Seven’s Sunrise.

“There is a difference in the relationship between him and the Trump administration.

“I believe the first thing you have to do is give Kevin another job somewhere else – get an ambassador who actually can work closer with the United States.

“You can’t have the Australian ambassador unable to make the connections at the highest level of the United States.”

Asked if Mr Rudd alone was the weak link, Mr Joyce said he thought “we can do better for the United States”.

“I’m not saying he’s a bad ambassador, but he’s not suited for the United States,” he said, adding it was “quite apparent” Mr Rudd was “just not hitting it off” with Mr Trump.

Only the UK has managed to receive an exemption from the Trump administration’s tariffs.

But analysts have questioned the merits of the deal, as London was forced to give US companies greater access to other parts of the British economy to lock it in.

Mr Rudd has the firm backing of Labor, with the Albanese government crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS.

Retired Liberal Party old guard have also continued to stand by the ambassador, including past political rivals.

Appearing opposite Mr Joyce, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek came to Mr Rudd’s defence.

“Kevin has had an extraordinarily active time as ambassador,” she said.

“He’s got excellent relationships with both Republicans and Democrats.”

Ms Plibersek went on to praise Mr Rudd as “hardworking” and as having “enormous capacity”.

“He’s an excellent ambassador, and at the end of the day, Australia chooses our ambassadors,” she said.

“We don’t allow other countries to choose our ambassadors for us.”

Mr Trump over the weekend declared on social media that it was his “great honor to raise the tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th”.

“Our steel and aluminium industries are coming back like never before,” he posted.

“This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminium workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell blasted the tariffs as “unjustified and not the act of a friend”.

“They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

“We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs.”

Mr Farrell said last month a deal was before the Trump administration and the ball was in the US’ court.