ABC News Daily The verdict on Trump’s talks with Albanese (and Kevin Rudd)
Oct 21, 2025
Jane Norman, ABC's national affairs correspondent, provides insight into the recent meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump. The conversation highlights the smooth discussions around the multi-billion dollar minerals deal, which bolsters the Australia-U.S. relationship. However, Kevin Rudd’s past remarks on Trump added some humorous tension. Norman also discusses the strategic timing of the meeting amid China's export controls and Trump's open support for AUKUS and critical minerals—a key factor for Australia's economic future.
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Albanese Left With Political Wins
- Anthony Albanese secured broad support and key outcomes from a 40-minute meeting with Donald Trump, emerging with political wins.
- The meeting showed a surprisingly warm, transactional rapport despite Trump's unpredictability.
Kevin Rudd Tweet Flap Causes Awkwardness
- A Sky News question forced an awkward moment over Kevin Rudd's deleted tweets calling Trump a "traitor" and "one of the most destructive presidents".
- Trump joked about not knowing him and prompted an off-camera apology from Rudd as they left the room.
Joint Funding To Break China's Monopoly
- The Australia–US deal funds Australian critical minerals projects to reduce reliance on China and build downstream processing.
- Joint funding aims to make uneconomic projects viable and develop a more sophisticated supply chain.