The federal opposition has called for Kevin Rudd to be immediately removed from his post in Washington after President Donald Trump said he would never like Australia’s ambassador to the United States.

When reminded about past critical comments that Rudd had made about him during a White House meeting on Tuesday morning, Trump addressed the ambassador and said: “I don’t like you either, and probably never will”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese treated the exchange as a joke, and Rudd later privately apologised to Trump after reporters left the room.

“All’s forgiven,” Trump said, according to sources in the room.

The initial exchange between Trump and Rudd stood out as a rare tense moment in an otherwise friendly meeting dominated by mutual praise between Albanese and Trump. Loading

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