Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed Coalition demands Kevin Rudd be sacked, saying Donald Trump's chiding of Australia's ambassador to the United States was "tongue-in-cheek".

Describing Anthony Albanese's long-anticipated White House performance as a "10 out of 10" in which the prime minister "lavished praise" on the US president "without appearing to be sycophantic", Mr Turnbull said his decision to include Mr Rudd in the meeting "projected strength".

"I think it would be a very bad look for Rudd to be moved now," Mr Turnbull told 7.30. Loading...

"I would think taking vengeance on Kevin Rudd would be very low on Donald Trump's priorities. And I think his rather tongue-in-cheek remarks are evidence of that".

At Tuesday's White House meeting — the first formal sit-

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