Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump will be "best mates" when they next cross paths, a former ambassador to the US predicts as their White House meeting is broadly declared a success.

The prime minister and president locked in a multibillion-dollar critical minerals deal and firmed up the future of the AUKUS military pact during a warm meeting in front of the cameras in the White House cabinet room early on Tuesday (AEDT).

Mr Trump played up his friendship with Mr Albanese, saying the US believed there had "never been anyone better" than Australia.

The main awkward moment came when Mr Trump was asked about ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, who once called the president a "traitor to the West".

Mr Trump appeared not to know who Dr Rudd was, but when the former Labor prime minister was poin

See Full Page