Australia stressed Wednesday that its ambassador to Washington was doing a "good job" after former US President Donald Trump suggested he was "not the brightest bulb" and could be expelled from the United States. 

During a TV interview, Trump criticized former prime minister-turned-diplomat Kevin Rudd, who has previously criticized the former US president. When asked about Rudd, Trump remarked that he had heard Rudd was "a little bit nasty," adding, "If he is at all hostile, he will not be there long".

"He won't be there long ... I've heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he's not the brightest" - Donald Trump on Kevin Rudd, Australia's Ambassador to the United States pic.twitter.com/tIwkkD15VR

— The National Observer (@TheNat_Observer) March 19, 2024

Rudd, who took up the diplomatic role in March 2023, had previously described Trump as "nuts", "the most destructive president in history", and a "traitor to the West".

Furthermore, Rudd's tenure has prioritized enhancing defense collaboration under the AUKUS agreement, a security pact involving Australia, Britain, and the United States. This agreement entails Australia's development of nuclear-powered submarines and the acquisition of various advanced weaponry from the United States.

Australia, UK to hold joint hypersonic missile tests

Democratic congressman Joe Courtney stated on X that Rudd's appointment bolstered relationships between the countries.

In December last year, US Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu stated that the Defense Department intends to hold joint hypersonic missile tests with the Australian military in 2024.

"We're already in the process of working very closely with them [the Australian Defense Department] to figure out how do we integrate some of our [Hypersonics] experimentations in Australia," the DefenseNews website cited her as stating on Sunday.    

Shyu added that the nations amped up their partnership in hypersonic technologies for the past year, and announced that the tests will be conducted this year. Part of the second stage of cooperation in the AUKUS partnership is technology, which includes quantum computing, autonomy, and electronic warfare research.