There has been widespread laughter among the audience at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner after Donald Trump made light about surviving the recent assassination attempts on his life.

Donald Trump took to the stage at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in a light-hearted evening for prominent US politicians.

"Tradition holds that I'm supposed to tell a few self-deprecating jokes this evening," Mr Trump said.

"So here it goes ... nope, I've got nothing.

"I guess I just don't see the point of taking shots at myself when other people have been shooting at me for a hell of a long time."