Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has shrugged off a speech mocking US President Donald Trump as “affectionately light-hearted” after audio was leaked from a private event at Parliament House.

With numerous TV personalities and comedians having poked fun at the unconventional President since he took office, Mr Turnbull decided to try his hand at a Trump skit of his own during Wednesday night’s Mid Winter Ball in Canberra.

A screenshot from footage leaked from Malcolm Turnbull’s speech as he imitates Donald Trump. Photo: 9News

“Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls,” Mr Turnbull can be heard saying in leaked audio released by Nine Network’s Laurie Oakes, a veteran political journalist.

“We are winning so much, we are winning, we are winning like we have never won before.

“Not the fake polls. They’re the ones we’re not winning. We’re winning in the real polls … they are so easy to win.”

Mr Turnbull went so far as to reference allegations that Moscow interfered in the US presidential election.

“I have this Russian … Believe me, it’s true. It is true.”

Neither Mr Trump, nor the White House, have offered any reaction to the PM’s stunt, in which he played on the President’s repetition and emphasis of certain words.

Listen to the leaked audio below of Turnbull’s comical speech:

Australian Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, confirmed there had been no reaction from the White House following Mr Turnbull’s comments.

“No, the administration hasn’t rung us up and I haven’t been hauled into the White House and been sent back to Australia … so far as I’m aware,” Mr Hockey said to laughs at a question-and-answer session hosted by the Stimson Center in the US on Friday morning (AEST).

“Although I saw a series of black cars outside,” he joked.

News of the leak spread around the globe overnight, much to the amusement of world media.

US media were quick to pick up on the story, with many pointing to Mr Turnbull’s routine as evidence that President Trump is not taken seriously by fellow world leaders.

CNN joked that Mr Turnbull’s “next phone call with Donald Trump could be awkward”.

In an interview with 3AW on Thursday, Mr Turnbull initially dodged questions over the incident.

“It [the ball] is a great tradition, it’s a big charity fundraiser,” he said.

“They raised nearly $400,000.”

But it was not long before he caved in, admitting to impersonating the President.

With a hint of a chuckle, Mr Turnbull described the speeches as an opportunity for a “good-humoured roast” where the PM and Opposition Leader can poke fun at themselves and other politicians.

He added that all comments were, however, regarded as “off-the-record” as a traditional formality.

“[My speech] was light-hearted, affectionate, good natured,” Mr Turnbull said.

“I am disappointed and I think what that means is next year at the Mid Winter Ball I will read selected passages from budget paper No. 2.

“He [Laurie Oakes] has taken on himself to do that, it’s a breach of protocol. It’s a breach of faith.”

When Mr Turnbull said the “butt of my jokes was myself”, 3AW’s Tom Elliott posed: “And Donald Trump?”

Mr Turnbull was quick to defend himself: “I wouldn’t say that. It was more good-natured than that I think.

“You’ve gotta have a laugh, you’ve got to lighten up … It’s a stressful business politics, you’ve gotta be cheerful.”

University of Adelaide politics professor Carol Johnson told The New Daily there was evidence that Mr Trump does not appreciate being the butt of humour.

“Given that Trump did not respond well at all to being roasted by [Barack] Obama at a White House correspondents’ dinner – indeed some believe this fuelled his desire to replace Obama as the next president and destroy Obama’s legacy – this [Turnbull’s speech] was not a good idea at all.”

https://twitter.com/AhMcCann/status/875315178790768640

I AM SETTING MY ALARM FOR SEAN SPICER'S RESPONSE #trump #auspol pic.twitter.com/hFkXOpxED7

— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) June 15, 2017

The US Embassy was not bothered by the PM’s speech.

“We understand that last night’s event is equivalent to our own White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” a spokesperson said.

“We take this with the good humour that was intended.”

The New Daily has contacted the White House for comment.

Turnbull vs Trump

The first phone call between Mr Turnbull and what was then a newly elected President Trump in January was widely reported as “heated” during which Mr Trump reportedly blasted Mr Turnbull over the US refugee resettlement deal.

Mr Turnbull met the President in New York during a visit to the US in May.

“You guys exaggerated that call,” Mr Trump told reporters during a brief photo opportunity with Mr Turnbull.

“That was a big exaggeration. We had a great call. I mean, we’re not babies. But we had a great call. Right?”

Mr Turnbull responded: “Exactly right.”

But in a speech later in the day, the President conceded the call had “got a little bit testy”.

During Wednesday night’s speech, Mr Turnbull did not hold back in pulling fun at their first meeting.

“It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful putting-me-at-ease ever,” he joked.

– with AAP