Anthony Albanese has leapt to Kevin Rudd’s defence after he was criticised for laughing when Donald Trump humiliated Australia’s foreign ambassador at the White House.

“If there’s a harder working ambassador on the Hill, then please let me know because Kevin works his guts out and he seems to know everything,” Mr Albanese said in DC on Tuesday morning local time.

The Australian prime minister then went to the US Capitol where he met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies and congressional leaders from each of the major parties.

Mr Albanese and Mr Jefferies shook hands before calling Mr Rudd over to join them for a photo.

It comes after Mr Trump signed a deal on rare earth minerals with Mr Albanese on Monday, and said Washington’s key ally would get its coveted nuclear-powered attack submarines.

During the meeting, an awkward confrontation played out between Mr Trump and Australia’s ambassador to Washington – former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Rudd deleted a series of critical social media posts about Mr Trump following the Republican’s election victory last year.

“I don’t like you either. I don’t. And I probably never will,” Mr Trump said to Mr Rudd when a reporter pointed out that the ex-premier was in the room and asked the US president whether he minded the comments.

Mr Albanese and Mr Rudd met at the White House to concentrate on a pair of areas – defence and critical minerals – in which Washington and Canberra are co-operating against what they view as an increasingly assertive China.