Donald Trump narrowly escapes being attacked by a bald eagle during TIME Magazine shoot

'Uncle Sam' sits on the politician's forearm before pointing its beak at his face and repeatedly trying to fly away

Donald Trump and Big Sam during the Time Magazine shoot (Time Magazine )

TIME Magazine has released footage of Donald Trump dodging a vicious looking bald eagle.

The film was taken during a photoshoot marking Mr Trump's position as runner up in the 'Person of the Year' award, which was won by Angela Merkel.

He agreed to pose with a bald eagle – America’s iconic symbol – for the magazine's cover story.

The idea came from award-winning portrait photographer, Martin Schoeller, who did the shoot.

The huge eagle, named 'Uncle Sam', is seen sitting on Mr Trump’s forearm, before pointing its beak at the US presidential candidate’s face and repeatedly trying to fly away.

The bird then hits Mr Trump with its wings until its handler manages to settle it.

The eagle sitting on Donald Trump's arm (Time Magazine)

During the shoot, Mr Trump becomes increasingly concerned with the way the eagle's attempted escape is affecting his appearance, asking: “how does my hair look?”

After several poses with the eagle, the shoot ends with Uncle Sam perching on the desk; Mr Trump behind it.

Mr Trump is then seen reaching for an aspirin on the desk near the bird's stand, before it aggressively flaps its wings and appears to try to bite the Republican candidate’s hand. He is forced to quickly dodge the bird and leave the desk.

Towards the end of the video, he can be heard saying: “What you will do for a cover! This bird is seriously dangerous, but beautiful.”