Tony Abbott has reportedly met privately with both US President Barack Obama and the president’s spy chief.

Mr Abbott and Mr Obama enjoyed a “very warm and intimate discussion” at an exclusive banquet on Sunday (AEDT), The Daily Telegraph reported exclusively on Monday.

This followed the former prime minister’s “secret talks” with National Intelligence director James Clapper about the war effort against the Islamic State a day earlier, according to the Telegraph.

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An ADF spokesman says Abbott was selected to address its lobby group members because of his views.

Mr Abbott was not quoted confirming the meetings, but did reportedly tell News Corp he was thanked for his work as Australia’s prime minister during his trip to Washington.

“They were very appreciative of the work done under my prime ministership and the work continuing to be done under the new prime minister,” he said, according to the Telegraph.

The former prime minister was not so lucky when during a visit to England in 2014. His request for an audience with the Queen was denied, Fairfax Media reported at the time.

Mr Abbott’s trip to the US as a backbencher generated controversy because of a speech he gave to a anti-gay, anti-abortion Christian group of lawyers.

His sister Christine Forster, who is in a same-sex relationship, said last week she was “surprised” he agreed to address the group, which calls itself the Alliance Defending Freedom.