Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tried out his Trump impersonation, and it leaked


Relations between President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull got off to a rocky start, thanks to a grumpy phone call, but the two leaders of the closely allied nations patched things up. Well, it turns out Trump isn't the only one of the two with a leak problem. On Tuesday night, Turnbull tried his hand at comedic impersonations in front of a room of reporters at Parliament House's Mid Winter Ball in Canberra, an event that is supposed to be off the record. Well, someone had their camera on, and Nine News political director Laurie Oakes obtained a copy of Turnbull's routine and published it.
Honestly, it's mostly pretty tame stuff, as far as Trump roasts go. "The Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls," Turnbull said. "We are winning so much, we are winning, we are winning like we have never won before." Yes, "we are winning in the polls," he said. "Not the fake polls, not the fake polls! They're the ones we're not winning in. We're winning in the real polls — you know, the online polls. ... They are so easy to win — I have this Russian guy. Believe me, it's true, it is true."
That Russian quip might leave a mark, actually. "I'm not sure The Donald would be all that amused by that reference to a 'Russian guy,'" Oakes points out. "Vladimir Putin might be, though."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats