Overview
- During a Cabinet Room exchange, President Donald Trump told Ambassador Kevin Rudd, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will,” after Rudd’s past criticisms were raised.
- Rudd apologized privately and, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump replied that “all is forgiven,” with Albanese insisting the relationship remains steady.
- Australia and the U.S. announced a major critical minerals pact, with officials outlining a pipeline of projects valued at about $8.5 billion and combined funding of roughly $3 billion, including a planned U.S. investment in a gallium refinery in Western Australia.
- Both governments publicly reaffirmed AUKUS, though Albanese declined to detail unresolved implementation questions that U.S. officials described as remaining ambiguities.
- Domestic fallout eased as the opposition softened calls for Rudd’s removal, with Sussan Ley walking back her ‘untenable’ remark and Jane Hume labeling the demand “churlish,” while Albanese noted he also raised U.S. reciprocal tariffs without securing relief.