Former leader of the French National Front Jean-Marie Le Pen: 'If I were American, I would vote Donald Trump'

Jean-Marie Le Pen has been convicted of racism or anti-Semitism at least six times

A prominent figure in French political life the 87-year-old politician has tried to become president of France five times and has been dubbed the devil of the republic (getty images)

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former leader of the French far-right Front National party has endorsed the Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.

“If I were American, I would vote Donald Trump. But may God protect him!” Le Pen wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Le Pen founded the Front National party in 1972 and led the party until 2011 but was expelled for his racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic comments in the summer of last year.

A prominent figure in French political life, the 87-year-old politician has tried to become president of France five times and has been dubbed the “devil of the republic”.

Le Pen has been convicted of racism or anti-Semitism at least six times and was found guilty of contesting crimes against humanity after saying the Nazi occupation of France was not “particularly inhumane”.

His daughter Marine Le Pen, who currently leads the Front National and has helped the party gain growing electoral legitimacy, has also appeared in court for charges of inciting racial hatred.

Le Pen’s decision to support Trump has stirred controversy on Twitter:

It's the second high-profile and troubling endorsement to blow up Trump this weekend.

On Sunday, he was questioned about the support he has garnered from David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Trump refused to condemn the KKK because, he said, he didn't know enough about the organisation to form an opinion about it.

He has previously associated himself with the European right in a lengthy interview in Valeurs actuelles, a weekly French magazine which is known for bridging the gap between the center right and the far right.

Speaking about the refugee crisis in the interview, Trump said Angela Merkel had made a “terrible mistake with the migrants.”

“What's happening in Europe can lead to its collapse. It's dramatic what (Merkel) has allowed to happen, this flood,” the property mogul continued.

”If we don't deal with the situation competently and firmly, then yes, it's the end of Europe”.