Trump isn’t one to beat around the bush. He’ll tell it like it is.
And a White House meeting descended into chaos after Trump leveled this foreign leader.
President Trump didn’t hold back during a high-stakes meeting on Monday, calling out Australia’s ambassador for past insults right after sealing a massive deal on rare-earth and critical minerals with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The exchange kicked off when a reporter brought up Kevin Rudd’s old jabs at Trump. “Did an ambassador say something bad about me?” Trump shot back at Albanese. “Where is he? Is he still working for you?”
Albanese pointed out that Rudd, who’s been Australia’s top envoy in Washington since 2023 and a former prime minister himself, was right there at the table. That led Trump to press, “You said bad?”
Rudd tried to smooth things over, starting with, “Before I took this position, Mr. President,” but Trump wasn’t having it and interrupted him cold.
“I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will,” Trump declared bluntly, then moved on by calling for the next question from the press.
This wasn’t the first time Rudd had gone after Trump. Back in 2021, he labeled him the “village idiot” and slammed him as the “most destructive president in history,” among other harsh words.
Just before this showdown, Trump and Albanese put pen to paper on a groundbreaking pact aimed at ramping up mining and processing of rare-earth and critical minerals, backed by a whopping $2 billion in joint investments to break China’s stranglehold on the supply.
This move comes hot on the heels of Beijing’s latest trade restrictions this month, forcing companies to get approval before shipping out products like magnets, batteries, and semiconductors made from these minerals—prompting Trump to warn of slapping 100% tariffs if China doesn’t back down.
China’s grip on the market is ironclad, controlling over two-thirds of global rare-earth mining, vital for everything from smartphones to military tech, and a staggering 90% of the world’s processing capacity.
The new U.S.-Australia alliance lays out a clear strategy to spot key projects that fill holes in essential supply chains and speed up permitting processes by cutting red tape and deregulating where needed.
Under the terms, “[W]ithin six months” both nations pledge to roll out at least $1 billion in funding for projects in the U.S. and Australia, ensuring end products head straight to buyers in both countries.
The slim two-page agreement also sets up a summit of top officials within 180 days to hammer out priorities, including ways “to promote investment in mining.”
To shield against China’s dirty tricks, the deal includes provisions for “price floors or similar measures” that combat non-market tactics and unfair competition.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently revealed plans for such a price-floor system to stop Beijing from undercutting prices so aggressively that it wipes out rivals and locks in its monopoly.
“The Participants will also work with international partners to develop a future global framework to deal with associated international pricing challenges,” the document outlines, showing a push for wider alliances.
Even amid the tension with China’s export curbs over the past couple of weeks, Trump stayed bullish after inking the deal with Albanese.
“I think we’re going to end up having a fantastic deal with China,” Trump proclaimed post-signing. “It’s going to be a great trade deal. It’s going to be fantastic for both countries, and it’s going to be fantastic for the entire world.”
Looking ahead, Trump announced intentions to head to China in early 2026, adding that “we’re going to have a very good relationship with China.”
This episode highlights Trump’s no-nonsense style in standing up to critics while forging deals that put America first, especially in countering foreign powers that threaten America’s economic security.
