“We want team Australia’s views to be put in the most constructive and effective way to the new American president.

“I don’t think that Kevin Rudd is operating from a position of strength any more.

“If I was the foreign minister, I’d probably ask him to pack his bags.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham was less adamant, but called for the government to think hard about whether Rudd could continue in his current role.

“Ambassador Rudd and the Prime Minister are the ones who are in the box seat to best make the assessment in coming weeks or months about how effectively he is going to be able to continue to have the influence and get the outcomes that Australia needs,” he told the National Press Club.

Birmingham said the risk of appointing Rudd had been well-known given his criticisms of Trump, but the government had proceeded with the appointment.

“We’ve wished Kevin success, we’ve celebrated where he has had success, we want to see that success continue,” Birmingham said.

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“Hopefully, indeed, the type of forgiveness that has been demonstrated to those members of the new administration will be extended in this case as well, but ultimately, the PM and Ambassador Rudd have to put Australia’s interests first.”

Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, who recently travelled to Washington, said on Tuesday that Rudd should be allowed to carry on his duties.

“I think he’s doing a good job working both sides of the halls in Congress, and I think that Australia needs to give him the benefit of the doubt,” the deputy chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee said.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has backed Rudd remaining in Washington, as have previous US ambassadors Joe Hockey, Arthur Sinodinos, Kim Beazley and Dennis Richardson.

After acting as Trump’s golf caddie, Scavino served as director of social media and deputy White House chief of staff for communications. He is expected to return to the White House in a senior role.

Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, told Sky News before the election that Rudd’s criticisms of Trump could complicate his role in Washington.

“It’s not my decision but I do think it would be nice to have a person who appreciates all Donald Trump has gone through to want to serve our country at this moment, this really critical moment in the history of America,” she said.

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“Obviously, [Rudd’s criticism] is a little bit tough to take, and maybe we would want to choose someone else.”

The question of Rudd’s future in Washington came up in March when Trump told Brexit champion Nigel Farage that while he did not know much about Rudd, he had heard “he was a little bit nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has insisted Rudd was “absolutely” the right person to represent Australia in Washington, as he had played a crucial role in securing the passage of legislation to deliver AUKUS.

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