If Anthony Albanese’s aim was to leave Washington DC unscathed, he'll be returning to Canberra a happy man. But he leaves behind a more chastened Kevin Rudd, who suffered an embarrassing public rebuke from Donald Trump and later offered a private apology for past criticisms.
Albanese’s long-awaited first meeting with the US president delivered definitive assurances over AUKUS, an USD8.5 billion ($13.1 billion) critical minerals deal and a friendly 35-minute press conference.
The cherry on top was personal praise from Trump, undercutting any suggestions of a frosty relationship between the pair.
“He's highly respected … and I hear you're very popular today,” Trump told a smiling Albanese.
