Anthony Albanese has revealed that he gifted Donald Trump a model submarine to mark his official Washington visit, as he gave full-throated support for the continued role of Australia's ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd.
Rudd was caught in an awkward exchange with the United States president on Tuesday over derogatory comments he made about Donald Trump before he was appointed by Anthony Albanese to the diplomatic post.
Albanese told reporters on Wednesday that Rudd is an "outstanding representative" of Australia who "works his guts out" in Washington.
Rudd would serve out a four-year term, Albanese confirmed, which does not conclude for more than a year.
On Tuesday, the Opposition said Rudd's position as ambassador to the United States was "untenable".
"This isn't about the individual. This is about the relationship and it's about Australia's national interest," Opposition leader Sussan Ley said.
Official gifts revealed
Albanese also revealed Australia's official gifts for the Trumps.
"We had a gift for Melania, we had jewellery," he said.
"We had a submarine model for the President, and we had some Ugg booties for the President's newest granddaughter to come along."
He said for protocol reasons, he was not able to reveal what Trump had gifted him.
Albanese has stopped short of singling out China as the target of the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, despite the White House asserting that countering Beijing is the key reason for the policy.
Anthony Albanese has refused to say whether he will personally raise the Chinese military decision to set off flares near Australian aircraft in the South China Sea with President Xi Jinping.
Albanese said the matter had already been escalated with China in Beijing and Canberra.
