The role
The position of US ambassador to Australia has sat vacant for 18 months since Caroline Kennedy left the role in December 2024. It is not unusual for the position to be held open for long periods at the start of a new presidency — Australia waited two years for the appointment of Trump’s first ambassador to Australia, Arthur Culvahouse, in 2019 and waited 18 months for Caroline Kennedy’s arrival during the Biden administration. However, while the role is often seen as a desirable post for a close ally of the president, President Trump reportedly struggled to find a nominee willing to live in Canberra.
The ambassador heads the US embassy in Canberra and plays an important role in both closed-door policy meetings with government as well as in public diplomacy designed to strengthen relations between Australia and the United States. Kennedy worked to secure support for AUKUS in US Congress and also famously joined the Shitbox Rally across Australia in 2024, while Culvahouse was strongly critical of China’s diplomacy in the Pacific.
