By ZAK WHEELER, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and ANDREW BROWN FOR AAP
Anthony Albanese has travelled to the US for his first sit down meeting with Donald Trump, where the AUKUS security pact, trade tariffs, and Australia's mineral reserves will dominate talks.
The prime minister flew out of Brisbane on Sunday afternoon bound for Washington, where he will meet with the US president early on Tuesday morning Australian time.
Joining Albanese at the White House will be former PM Kevin Rudd, who is serving as Australia's ambassador to the US, and with whom Trump has a frosty relationship.
Rudd's role as ambassador was under scrutiny as Trump was elected for his second term in office after it was revealed he'd made years-old online posts in which he called Trump a 'traitor to the West' and the 'most destructive president in history'.
Trump in return called Rudd a 'nasty' person, 'not the brightest bulb' and said if he was 'hostile' he 'won't be there long' as ambassador. Rudd was personally appointed in the ambassador role by Albanese.
In June this year renowned US pollster Brett Buchanan claimed Trump 'didn't like' Rudd and this was backed up by retired US military intelligence specialist John Powers who said Rudd was an 'obstacle' in the Australia and US relationship.
With Rudd in tow, Albanese will be hoping to avoid criticism other world leaders have experienced during their encounters in the Oval Office, such as Trump's infamous televised argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February.
A war-weary Zelensky had suggested America was not putting enough pressure on Russia to end their invasion, sparking an outburst from Trump and vice president JD Vance that Zelensky should be more grateful for the help that America had provided.
Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd will accompany Anthony Albanese to the White House for the first sit down meeting between the Australia and United States leaders
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese departed Brisbane en route for Washington D.C. on Sunday
Albanese is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday in the Oval Office
The prime minister said he was looking forward to a 'positive and constructive' meeting with Mr Trump.
'Australia and the United States have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in every major conflict for over a century,' Mr Albanese said.
'Our meeting is an important opportunity to consolidate and strengthen the Australia-United States relationship.'
Education Minister Jason Clare dismissed suggestions a testy meeting with Mr Trump would be a setback to the relationship with the US.
'I doubt that's a problem. I think most Australians understand the importance of the relationship between America and Australia,' he told Sky News on Sunday.
'We've got different views on different things - Medicare, gun laws are good examples of that - but we've got more in common than we have that separates us or divides us.
'It's these sorts of values and those sorts of interests that will drive the conversation and the relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese.'
Mr Albanese would face challenges in dealing with Mr Trump on his home turf, Australian National University political academic John Hart said, alluding to other world leaders who experienced tense exchanges with the president.
Thus far the two world leaders have not had a single one-on-one sit down
'Trump's behaviour is entirely unpredictable and that is an issue as far as the prime minister is concerned,' he told AAP.
Mr Albanese will be joined by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres for parts of the trip.
A critical minerals deal with the US is likely to be used as leverage to seek lower tariffs on exports.
Mr Clare said any possible critical minerals deal would not mean the relationship with other countries, such as China, would be strained.
'We're in favour of free and fair trade. China is our biggest trading partner. The US is our greatest and most important ally,' he said.
'A big part of our responsibility as a mature government is to work with both nations in Australia's interest.'
But Dr Hart says the US is unlikely to make an exception for Australia and keep the tariff for everyone else.
'If he did, it would put Australia offside with a lot of other trading partners affected by this because if the tariff was reduced, Australia would be able to sell more steel and aluminium than competitors,' he said.
Albanese said he hopes the meeting will be 'positive and constructive'
Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said a critical minerals deal would be a good outcome from the talks.
'That's a good leverage point for us. We have, you know, it's been said the whole periodic table here in Australia, a lot of critical minerals,' he told Sky News.
'People want choice where they get their product from, so we should be developing that industry and using that as leverage.'