Australian defence department chief to replace Kevin Rudd as US ambassador

FREE Breaking News Alerts from StreetInsider.com!

E-mail Address

StreetInsider.com Top Tickers, 8/19/2026

1. KLAR
2. KEYS
3. PANW
4. HD
5. DVLT
6. MRNA
7. PGR
8. EPM
9. MRCY
10. LOW

January 24, 2026 9:39 PM EST

FILE PHOTO: Ambassador of Australia to the U.S. Kevin Rudd attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

SYDNEY, Jan ⁠25 (Reuters) - Australian ⁠Prime ‍Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday named the country's defence department ‍chief as the next ambassador to ​the U.S., after Kevin Rudd said he ​would step down following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Albanese said senior civil servant Greg Moriarty, ​currently secretary of the Department of Defence, would replace Rudd ​as ambassador to Washington.

"Mr Moriarty is I think an ‌outstanding Australian public servant," Albanese said in remarks on Australian Broadcasting ​Corporation television.

Rudd, a former ⁠prime minister who made critical comments about Trump before becoming ‌ambassador, said earlier this month that he would leave the role a ‌year earlier than expected, finishing his posting in ‌March. In October, Trump criticised Rudd during an event at the White House saying: "I don’t ‍like you either, and I probably never will."

Albanese said the ⁠Trump administration had been informed of Moriarty's selection and was happy with it.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)


Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Reuters

Related Entities

Donald J. Trump