What was claimed
Donald Trump called Kevin Rudd a "total loser" in a Truth Social post.
Our verdict
False. The post is a fake.
AAP FACTCHECK - Donald Trump did not criticise Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in a recent social media post, despite a fake message calling Mr Rudd a loser and a dud circulating online.
The post, which appears to be from Mr Trump's social media platform Truth Social, mimics the US president's distinctive writing style, using multiple capital letters, exclamation marks and hashtags, but it's a fake.
An image of the post is being shared on Facebook.
"Kevin 'The Dud' Rudd is a total LOSER. Australia needs a new Ambasssdor [sic] to the United States IMMEDIATELY! I will not speak with their PM until he is removed. He once called me "the most destructive President in history" which I am far from, he is not the brightest bulb! Such a NASTY man! Kevin, you're FIRED!! #MAGA #DudRudd," it reads.
A reverse image search of the post shows the picture was originally published on X by an account that shares satirical content about Australian politicians.
"BREAKING: Trump unleashes on @AmboRudd — Kevin, you’re FIRED!" the caption reads.
AAP FactCheck has previously debunked fake Truth Social posts shared by the X account.
While the image includes the same username, profile picture and pink tick as the president's official Truth Social account - Donald J. Trump - the font is different to the one used by the platform.
And although Mr Trump has previously spoken disparagingly about Mr Rudd, there's no evidence of the president calling him a loser on social media or saying he's fired.
A search of Mr Trump's feed did not return any results matching the post shared on Facebook.
There's also no record of the post on Trump's Truth (an independent web archive of his posts on the platform) or any media reports suggesting he made such an ultimatum.
Following Mr Trump's re-election in 2024, former prime minister Mr Rudd deleted a number of old posts on X in which he had called the US leader "the most destructive president in history" and a "traitor to the West".
A statement issued by Mr Rudd's office on November 7, 2024, read: "Out of respect for the office of President of the United States, and following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has now removed these past commentaries from his personal website and social media channels.
"This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as Ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian Government."
Mr Rudd became Australia's ambassador to the US in March 2023.
In a March 2024 interview with British politician Nigel Farage, aired by the ABC, Mr Trump said he'd heard Mr Rudd was a "little bit nasty".
"I hear he's not the brightest bulb, but I don't know much about him. But if he's at all hostile, he will not be there long."
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