<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kevin Rudd was subject to two rounds of humiliation by Donald Trump at a crucial meeting, but the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kevin-rudd-i-dont-like-you-what-happened-after-anthony-albanese-meeting/336cb5ef-1cf5-4f98-ab0d-fa392b0878ac" rel="" target="_blank" title="awkward exchange"><span>awkward exchange</span></a><span> was just the US president creating "good TV", according to an outspoken senior Liberal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After months of criticism for failing to land a meeting with Trump, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's first face-to-face at the White House this week was hailed a success after the signing of a landmark $8.5 billion deal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The visit went without a hitch until one reporter asked Trump whether Rudd's disparaging past comments about him had at all contributed to why it took nine months into his second term as president to finally meet with Albanese. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-reveals-the-gifts-he-gave-donald-trump-during-crucial-white-house-visit/a71332c8-7538-4205-9bd4-334250bb0bf2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>What the prime minister gifted the man who has everything</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That set off Trump, who said he would never like Rudd.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Liberal frontbencher-turned-backbencher Andrew Hastie, the exchange was "theatre" and "good TV".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That was theatre," he told 2GB.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/kevin-rudd-donald-trump-moment-andrew-hastie-says-it-was-theatre/2d700b2a-5e02-44c1-a75e-1851cf7a2c24" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(Trump) does really good reality television and trolling the Australian ambassador was good TV, but in the end, Kevin Rudd copped it on the chin for the country, and we move forward."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hastie brushed off the moment, saying "we don't need to relive the humiliation" and praised Rudd for his efforts in pushing the minerals deal over the line.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Kevin Rudd got the job done in the end. He got the minerals deal and he got a seat at the table with President Trump and the prime minister," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Frankly, he made some unwise comments prior to becoming the ambassador, and we all make unwise comments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pauline-hanson-rubbishes-claim-barnaby-joyce-will-lead-one-nation/f025f828-9f9e-40bf-bf6f-9c2adef65e5e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Not going to happen': Hanson rubbishes claim Joyce could lead One Nation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And he sat there, and he was humiliated by Donald Trump."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump claimed not to even know who Rudd was, and asked the Australian ambassador to the US sitting across from him if he had said anything bad about him. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Before I took this position, Mr President," Rudd replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump then proceeded to say, "I don't like you either, and I probably never will", which prompted laughter from the room full of journalists and officials, including Albanese.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese downplayed the exchange following the meeting, and Trump reportedly accepted an off-camera apology from Rudd.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hastie has joined the growing voices of Coalition members backing Rudd and deviating from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's criticisms, in which she said his position as ambassador was "untenable" due to his past comments about Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was a remark she was forced to later backtrack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-charges-against-mp-accused-of-assaulting-wife/19eda484-335c-4deb-8fbc-74f52ab66d77" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>New charges against South Australian MP accused of assaulting wife</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Liberal Senator Jane Hume and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie have also commended Rudd.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The work clearly has been done on critical minerals and rare earths by Kevin Rudd personally, and I think that he should be acknowledged for that good work," Hume told Sky News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That would have taken months of painstaking negotiation to get the deal done. So credit where it's due," McKenzie told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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