Apparently Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull does a pretty decent impression of President Donald Trump.
A recording has surfaced of Turnbull mimicking Trump’s style of public speaking—complete with jokes about fake poll numbers, fake news, and the ongoing investigation into Trump’s campaign ties with Russia.
“Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls,” Turnbull says in the recording. “We are winning so much, we are winning, we are winning like we have never won before. We are winning in the polls. We are, we are. Not the fake polls. Not the fake polls. They’re the ones we’re not winning in.”
The crowd clapped and laughed at Turnbull’s impression of Trump. “They are so easy to win, I have this Russian guy,” Turnbull continued. “Believe me, it’s true, it is true.”
Turnbull’s Trump impression came during a speech at the Midwinter Ball, an annual gathering of Australian parliament members and journalists similar to the White House Correspondents Dinner, according to CNN.
Australian prime minister @TurnbullMalcolm mocks @realDonaldTrump at press gallery ball: “I have this Russian guy…” https://t.co/s2uk1MYFaF pic.twitter.com/YQiubiHivL
— Dave Earley (@earleyedition) June 15, 2017
Earlier this year, Turnbull and Trump reportedly got off to a rocky start when they had a heated phone call regarding a refugee relocation deal orchestrated by the Obama administration that would have sent refugees to the United States.
During an interview on a local radio station after the speech at the Midwinter Ball, Turnbull said his Trump impression was meant to be light-hearted.
““Well it [the ball] is a great tradition, it’s a big charity fundraiser … and it is a good-humored sort of roast really,” Turnbull said, according to the Guardian. “The PM and the opposition leader give a speech and poke fun at themselves and often other politicians.”
The speeches are supposed to be off-the-record at the ball, according to reports, and Turnbull was not happy his speech leaked online, the Guardian reported.
“I guess what this means is at the Midwinter Ball next year, I will read selected passages from budget paper number two,” Turnbull reportedly said.
