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6h ago

Albanese Backs Rudd After Trump Jibe as US and Australia Pledge $3 Billion for Critical Minerals and Reaffirm AUKUS

Albanese reaffirmed Kevin Rudd's position following the White House exchange.

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Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pose for a photo in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 20: U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese speak to reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on October 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Albanese is visiting the U.S. Capital to meet with President Trump and later visit the Pentagon. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Australia and the United States committed a combined $3 billion toward an $8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects in Australia to strengthen strategic supply chains.
  • Both governments publicly reaffirmed the AUKUS partnership, while US Navy Secretary John Phelan noted remaining "ambiguities" that leaders downplayed as minor.
  • During the Cabinet Room spray, President Donald Trump told Ambassador Kevin Rudd "I don't like you either," after which Rudd apologized and, according to attendees, Trump said all was forgiven.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Rudd's performance and said he will stay in the post, as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley argued his position is untenable and called for his removal.
  • Albanese said he spent nearly three hours with Trump and highlighted broad bipartisan engagement on Capitol Hill, where senior lawmakers credited Australia for sustained AUKUS advocacy.