Peter Dutton has toughened his language about Kevin Rudd's appointment as Australia's ambassador to the US, after a top Trump aide appeared to suggest his time in the role was coming to an end.

Dan Scavino, a close aide of Donald Trump's, has posted what appears to be an ominous message to Kevin Rudd on X. Scavino posted a GIF of sand trickling through an hourglass next to a message from Australia's ambassador to the US on Tuesday - something that usually signifies when someone's "time's up".

Donald Trump thinks Kevin Rudd is "a little bit nasty" and "not the brightest bulb". It is an open question whether Australia's ambassador to America will be able to deal with the returning Trump administration.