Watch | Trump to Australian ambassador in White House: ‘I don’t like you and probably never will’

On being inquired by a reporter whether the Australian Ambassador’s past criticism had affected Trump’s views on Albanese’s administration, the US president said, “I don’t know anything about him,” seemingly unaware of his presence in the room.

“Did an ambassador say something bad about me?” Trump asked.

Rudd, in an attempt to give an explanation for his remarks, said, “Before I took this position, Mr President.”

“I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will,” the US president said with a tone of scorn, as officials from both the countries laughed awkwardly.

#Watch | US President Donald Trump to Australian ambassador: ‘I don’t like you either’ pic.twitter.com/6ZFe57k8IJ

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 21, 2025

Trump, Albanese ink deal on rare earth minerals

Despite the awkward confrontation, the meeting between Trump and Albanese was deemed successful, with the two leaders signing a $2 billion rare-earth minerals agreement.

“Today’s agreement on critical minerals and rare earths is just taking it to the next level, seizing those opportunities, which are before us,” Albanese said.

Australia is rich in rare earth resources that the US is eager to tap, as China imposes tougher export rules on its own critical minerals.

Trump said the agreement had been negotiated over several months.

Albanese stressed the close relationship between the two countries, and said the criminal minerals deal was “just taking it to the next level”.

Albanese also discussed the nuclear submarine deal with Trump during their White House meeting.

On Monday, Trump said the AUKUS defence pact, a $239 billion agreement signed in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, under which Australia is to purchase US nuclear-powered submarines in 2032 before jointly developing a new class with the United Kingdom, is “moving very, very quickly”.

Ahead of the talks, Albanese said, “Australia and the United States have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in every major conflict for over a century.”