Kevin Rudd makes first public comments since his awkward exchange with US President Donald Trump

Kevin Rudd has made his first public comments since his awkward exchange with US President Donald Trump during a meeting with Anthony Albanese at the White House last week.

Mr Rudd, the Australian Ambassador to the US, made a surprise Canberra appearance on Tuesday to speak at an America Chamber of Commerce in Australia event in Parliament House.

It came a week after his past controversial comments about Mr Trump — including describing him as a “a village idiot” and “the most destructive president in history” — were brought up during a press conference held by Mr Albanese and Mr Trump.

It prompted the US president to eye-ball Mr Rudd mid-event and deliver a stinging remark: “I don’t like you, and I probably never will”. After media were cleared from the room, Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Rudd “all is forgiven”.

Speaking to reporters outside the AmCham event on Tuesday, Mr Rudd reflected on the bilateral as an “excellent meeting” and added it was “good to be back in Canberra”.

“I’m here with the Trade Minister (Don Farrell). We’re speaking to a gathering of Australian business who want to do a lot of business investment and trade with the United States and that’s what we’re here to do,” Mr Rudd told reporters.

“You know something … what I think, is that the Prime Minister had an excellent meeting with the president of the United States.

“We’re here to do a job. What I would say is that I’m from America and I’m here to help, and my name is Kevin.”

Media were told by AmCham chief executive April Palmerlee prior to Mr Rudd’s official address that they were not welcome to record or report on it.

Mr Albanese has backed Mr Rudd to continue in the top diplomat position after the meeting, despite Mr Trump appearing to backtrack on his “all is forgiven” comment just days later by stating: “When they say bad about me, I don’t forget”.

Mr Trump also hinted on Friday that he’s closer to appointing an Ambassador to Australia after the Canberra position has remained empty ten months into his second presidency.

“I’m talking to your leader (Albanese), who was just here, and he’s a great guy, and I’m going to make sure we have somebody that he likes,” Mr Trump said before boarding his Air Force One in Washington bound for the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumper.

“I have one or two people (in mind).

“Here’s the good news, everybody wants to be ambassador to Australia.”