A podcaster says he spoke on the phone to US President Donald Trump on Air Force One for almost four minutes by pretending to be a Democratic senator – and the President did not realise.

A voice purportedly belonging to Mr Trump discussed topics including immigration in the phone call with John “Stuttering John” Melendez, who pretended to be Senator Bob Menendez.

The recording was included in an episode of Melendez’s Stuttering John Podcast.

Melendez, a comedian known for his time on the Howard Stern Show, said he was first put through to Mr Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who asked him what he wanted to talk to the President about.

After he told him he wanted to discuss immigration, Melendez said Mr Kushner responded: “OK, cool, I’ll tell him.”

He said he was “shocked” Mr Trump then returned his call – from his plane.

“Hi, Bob. Congratulations on everything. We’re proud of you. Congratulations, great job,” Mr Trump purportedly began the conversation.

“You went through a tough, tough situation and I don’t think a very fair situation, but congratulations.”

He did not specify what he was referring to, but New Jersey’s Senator Menendez recently won his primary contest, after a hung jury spared him a conviction in a federal bribery case last year.

Republicans are reportedly pleased about his win and hope to use his legal troubles to tar other Democrats.

‘I’d like to do the larger solution’, Trump says

Melendez, as Senator Menendez, asked what he could tell his “constituents” Mr Trump was going to do about the separation of children from their parents at America’s border.

“Bob, let me just tell you, I want to be able to take care of the situation every bit as much as anybody else at the top level,” Mr Trump purportedly responded.

“I’d like to do the larger solution, rather than the smaller solution. They’re doing them step by step. I think we can do the whole thing.

“I have a good relationship with the party, you have a good relationship with the party.

“And I think we could do a real immigration bill.

“We have to have security at the border … and that’s a good issue for the Democrats too, Bob.

“It’s not like it’s good for you, or good for me. It’s good for all of us.

“People are tired, you know, of the problem.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvlDDWBz-58

Melendez then turned the conversation to the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and asked if Mr Trump would choose a moderate or conservative as his replacement.

“I have a big list of people, Bob, and we’ll take a look at it and we’re going to make a decision,” Mr Trump allegedly said.

“I’ll probably make it over the next couple of weeks.”

US media reported that the White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding the purported phone call.

People used social media to criticise the White House’s security.

https://twitter.com/KaivanShroff/status/1012814277449797632

True story: Trump answered a prank call on Air Force One and thought a comedian is a sitting US Senator.

And y'all were worried about Hillary's private email server.

— Deniz S. (@MrFilmkritik) June 29, 2018

Duped by Stuttering John … about to negotiate with Putin. America: 1776 to 2018 — RIP.@realDonaldTrump https://t.co/AZwhl4fnO6

— Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) (@ColMoeDavis) June 30, 2018

-ABC