Kevin Rudd reveals the four-word mantra governing his approach to Donald Trump
Kevin Rudd has revealed the four-word mantra governing his approach to dealing with US President Donald Trump: 'Keep calm, we're Australian'.
The ambassador to the US made the tongue-in-cheek comments at a conference in Detroit where he argued that Australia could help the United States address the shortfall it faces in 50 designated categories of critical minerals.
Critical minerals are crucial metal or non-metal elements needed for modern technologies, such as semiconductors and rechargeable batteries.
If there supply chains are disrupted, then it could present a national security threat because modern economies are so reliant on these materials and the products they produce.
Rudd argued that Trump's treatment of critical minerals as a 'strategic priority' aligned with Australia's - and both countries could work together to ward off China's dominance in the sector.
'The geology of the United States does not permit you to be self-reliant in all 50 (critical minerals) because they're not all here,' Rudd told the conference, according to The Australian.
'But if you add Canada and Australia, you are.
'So what we need to work out – and we have a draft accord with the administration at present on these questions – is how do we collaborate both on the mining, the extraction, the transportation and the processing and the stockpiling to make our economies resilient, including what you'll need for future battery manufacture for the future.'
Kevin Rudd has revealed the four-word mantra governing his approach to Donald Trump : 'Keep calm, we're Australian'
Rudd argued that Trump's treatment of critical minerals as a 'strategic priority' aligned with Australia's - and both countries could work together to ward off China 's dominance in the sector
In what was perhaps an oblique reference to Trump's recent tariff decision, where Australia was slapped with the 10 per cent base rate, Rudd acknowledged there had been 'recent bumps in the road' for the Australia-US relationship.
But Rudd insisted the two countries would always see eye-to-eye.
'Sure, President Trump's administration has different priorities. But I printed the embassy mugs,' he said.
'On the outside it says, "Keep calm, we're Australian". And we'll work our way through all of these little challenges.'
Rudd's comments come just days after he unleashed about Trump's decision to block foreign students from Harvard.
'We are monitoring closely developments at Harvard University in relation to the administration's statement this afternoon on the future enrolment of international students,' Mr Rudd said on Friday morning in a statement to X.
'I know this will be distressing for Harvard's many Australian students.
'The embassy is working with the United States government to obtain the details of this decision so that Australian students can receive appropriate advice.
'We also intend to engage the administration more broadly on the impact of this decision for Australian students and their families both at Harvard and at other campuses across the United States.'
Rudd has been under pressure to retain his position since Trump's re-electoin because he previously labelled the president a 'village idiot', a 'traitor to the West' and 'the most destructive president in history'.
After Mr Trump's election victory in November, Rudd deleted a swathe of those negative social media comments.
But that same month Daily Mail Australia revealed how Mr Rudd never imagined Trump would return to power, dismissing his first term as a period of 'craziness'.
'Never take a backwards step in saying we're allies with the United States,' Mr Rudd said.
'For all the American pre-disposition to episodic craziness... Look at Trump: how did that happen? That was a walk on the wild side for all of us.'
Trump has also previously signalled his disapproval of Mr Rudd, branding him 'nasty'.
'I don't know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty,' Trump told GB News last year.
'I hear he's not the brightest bulb, but I don't know much about him. If he's at all hostile, he will not be there long.'
