The premier, whose popularity in the polls has been sliding, was recorded alluding to Trump's links with Russia at an off-the-record press ball in Canberra.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been caught playfully mocking US President Donald Trump.
The premier, whose popularity in the polls has been sliding, was recorded alluding to Trump’s links with Russia at an off-the-record press ball in Canberra.
He said: “The Donald and I… we are winning in the polls.
“We are. Not the fake polls. We are winning in the real polls.
“You know, the online polls. They are so easy to win. I have this Russian guy…”
Turnbull later said he was disappointed the recording had been leaked, and added the extract was a good-humoured roast.
The U.S. embassy in Canberra said it the comments had been taken with “the good humour that was intended.”
The pair had a frosty start to their relationship, with Trump labeling refugee settlement scheme agreed between the two countries under President Barack Obama as “dumb”.
However, two leaders were all smiles during their first face to face meeting in New York last month.