Aussie piss taking
Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 8:12 am
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been recorded apparently mocking US President Donald Trump in footage leaked by the media.
Mr Turnbull was filmed speaking at an event for the Australian media at Parliament House on Wednesday night.
The event is normally not reported on, but the political editor at Australia's Nine Network said he had chosen to break protocol and make it public.
Mr Turnbull said the report was "a breach of faith."
Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull recently repaired ties after a troubled start.
They had an acrimonious first phone call over Mr Trump's reluctance to honour a deal to accept up to 1,200 refugees from Australian detention camps.
But last month the two leaders met in New York, after which Mr Trump described their relationship as "fantastic".
In the leaked footage, Mr Turnbull performs a jokey routine for guests at the Mid Winter Ball for the media.
Adopting the mannerisms of the president, he says their meeting was "beautiful. It was the most beautiful putting-me-at-ease ever".
"The Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls. We are winning so much, we are winning, we are winning like we have never won before," he said.
He also jokes that polls are "so easy to win" adding: "I have this Russian guy..." in reference to Mr Trump's long-running difficulties with allegations that his campaign officials may have colluded with Russian hackers to influence the election outcome.
Prime Minister Turnbull appeared on Melbourne's 3AW radio show with Tom Elliott to discuss a different issue, but briefly addressed the controversy and said he, rather than Mr Trump, was the butt of his joke.
"It's a good-humoured roast," he said. "My speech was affectionately light-hearted.