Kevin Rudd would be forced to give up his six-figure salary and his luxury multi-million dollar residence if he accepts calls to resign as US ambassador after his past comments about Donald Trump resurfaced and sparked outrage.
The Australian Ambassador to the US has labelled the President-elect a ‘village idiot’, a ‘traitor to the West’ and ‘the most destructive president in history’.
There are growing voices calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sack Mr Rudd and install someone else who can build a better relationship with Trump’s new administration.
Trump has also signalled his disapproval with the former Prime Minister of Australia, branding him ‘nasty’.
‘I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty,’ Trump told GB News earlier this 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.’
And one of Trump’s most senior campaign advisors, Dan Scavino Jr, gave an indication that Mr Rudd would not last long under the current administration.
Sharing Mr Rudd’s congratulatory message to the new President-elect on X, Mr Scavino Jr posted an hour glass GIF – suggesting his days were numbered.
The Australian Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd (pictured), has labelled the President-elect a ‘village idiot’, a ‘traitor to the West’ and ‘the most destructive president in history’. He has become famed in Washington for his parties, including a Pride celebration in 2023 which saw several drag queens perform (pictured)
As Australian Ambassador to the US, Mr Rudd lives in a palatial, red-brick mansion (pictured) in leafy Woodley Park, just a ten-minute drive from the White House in the heart of Washington DC
But Mr Rudd is unlikely to go quietly, especially given the huge number of perks he receives as one of Australia’s top diplomats.
While his salary is not made public by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it is believed to be in the region of $300,000 to $441,000.
This is in addition to his parliamentary pension which is estimated to be $216,000 a year and his many lucrative academic appointments.
As Australian Ambassador to the US, Mr Rudd lives in a palatial, red-brick mansion in leafy Woodley Park, just a ten-minute drive from the White House in the heart of Washington DC.
The heritage-listed property, which is known as White Oaks, was built in 1923 and was originally the home of General George Patton, a towering and controversial figure in US military history.
It boasts the only grass tennis court in the whole of Washington, which was restored and renovated by Mr Rudd’s predecessor, Joe Hockey after falling into disrepair.
The court has hosted games involving senior members of congress, military leaders, foreign diplomats and possible senior members of Trump’s new administration.
In July, Mr Rudd invited Vivek Ramaswamy, a nationally ranked junior tennis player and the man who was on Tuesday tasked with running the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ with Elon Musk, to have a hit on the private court.
Mr Rudd is also known in Washington for his invitations to lavish parties – often held at the Australian taxpayer’s expense.
In June 2023 – less than three months after taking up his new role in the US – Mr Rudd hosted a lavish Pride party at White Oaks.
The event, which featured a rainbow balloon installation, drag queens and copious amounts of food and booze, cost around $23,000.
And in August this year he was accused of turning the US Embassy in downtown Washington into a ‘party house’ after internal documents released under Freedom of Information of information laws showed how thousands of dollars were spent on booze, butlers and a barbecue.
President-elect Trump (pictured) has also signalled his disapproval with Mr Rudd, branding him ‘nasty’
It emerged that Mr Rudd had hosted an Awards Gala Night in January, which saw the US Embassy spend $36,000 on a performance by opera singer Amy Manford and $26,000 to Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs to emcee the evening.
DFAT said that the cost for the event, which was attended by 200, was drawn from a sponsorship fund for the embassy.
Another invoice showed that the embassy had spent over $15,000 on a new barbecue.
Opposition Waste spokesman, James Stevens accused Mr Rudd of ‘turning the Australian Embassy into a party house’.
‘From pride parties to glitzy gala dinners, Rudd’s reputation for indulging in fun and frivolity is well and truly intact,’ Mr Stevens said.
‘Australia is quickly gaining a reputation in the US for lavish parties and high living.
‘This could not be further from the experience of Australian families who are struggling to pay their mortgages, rent and electricity bills under the Albanese Government.’
