Kevin Rudd maintains Australia’s confidence, even as conservative firebrands call for the Washington ambassador’s resignation.

Donald Trump roasted Australia’s former prime minister in an interview aired by GB News on Thursday, calling him “a little bit nasty” and warning that he would “not be there for long”.

The comments sparked a political firestorm in Australia, as opposition politicians warned a hostile relationship between the second-time presidential hopeful and the Australian ambassador could put pressure on diplomatic relations if he is re-elected in late 2024.

But cabinet minister Mark Butler backed the diplomat’s competency.

“We’re very confident that whatever happens in November, he’ll be able to work with all US administrations,” he told Today on Thursday.

“Kevin Rudd is very widely respected right across the aisle. He’s bringing his usual work ethic to networking in America, as he did so notoriously here in Australia.”

Nigel Farage, a British political operative and the man who interviewed Mr Trump, said Australia had no alternative but to “pull Kevin Rudd out”.

For Australia’s trilateral security alliance with the US and UK to flourish, the Commonwealth needs an ambassador that can talk to the president, Mr Farage said.

While Mr Trump has a history of working with high profile figures after publicly bullying them, the conservative interviewer said this was  unlikely to apply to Mr Rudd.

“There’s more chance of him having tea with Kim Jong Un,” Mr Farage told Today.

“That relationship clearly is not going to work.

“A Trump victory (means) maybe Mr. Rudd’s home for Christmas.”

Former chief of the US National Security Agency Michael Rogers, who has worked with Mr Rudd, said he had a lot of respect for the diplomat but noted any decisions on his future were for Australia, not the US.

“I would urge everyone to step back,” he told ABC radio.

Before Mr Rudd was appointed Australia’s US ambassador, he decried the former US president as a “traitor to the west” and “the most destructive president in history” who “drags America and democracy through the mud”.

Mr Rudd is not the only Australian political figure to decry the Republican nominee.

Former Liberal defence industry minister Christopher Pyne in 2020 wrote Mr Trump “does not have the emotional equipment to be president” while ex-treasurer Josh Frydenberg called him a “dropkick” in 2015.

The US presidential election in November will be a rematch between Democrat President Joe Biden and Mr Trump.

Mr Biden’s approval rating has continued to slip, while the former president is contending with multiple criminal charges.

This post was originally published on Michael West.