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He said horrible things about the president. Called him an idiot. Said he was reprehensible.

"I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldn't be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he's America's Hitler," he wrote on Facebook in a private message that became famously public.

He's not Kevin Rudd; he's Donald Trump's vice-president.

JD Vance not only survived, he thrived under Trump. Which makes all the hyperventilation about Rudd's ambassadorship after Trump's barb at US ambassador Kevin Rudd during the joint press conference in Washington look like pointless straw clutching.

Off-camera, Rudd apologised and reportedly was told by Trump that all was forgiven. One report even had the president commenting to Anthony Albanese that Rudd seemed like a nice guy.

But details like that didn't deter the opposition and its News Corp cheer squad. Rudd's position was untenable, they bellowed, intent on raining on what was clearly a successful parade.

Trump's Rudd jibe looked bad in print but the video told another story entirely. Ripples of laughter through the media scrum. A broad smile on Albo's face. Mock displeasure on Trump's. Rudd a little sheepish.

If there was deflation, it was on this side of the Pacific. You could almost feel the disappointment in conservative circles that the long-awaited meeting had gone so well. AUKUS, tick. Critical minerals, tick. No pressure to ramp up defence spending, tick. Calming concerns over China's intentions towards Taiwan, tick.

And there was no Oval Office awkwardness this time around, where a procession of world leaders have sat like nervous party props. Instead, the cabinet room, where body language suggested more equal players as the rare earths and minerals investment agreement was signed.