RNC 2016: Former KKK leader David Duke praises ‘great’ Donald Trump speech

David Duke is an American white nationalist and former 'Grand Wizard' of the Klu Klux Klan

A former leader of the Klu Klux Klan has praised Donald Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention, saying he “couldn’t have said it better”.

Drawing cheers from the crowd at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio as he accepted the Republican party’s nomination, Mr Trump presented himself as a “law and order” leader who will put “America First”.

“Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored […] I am going to make our country rich again,” said the business tycoon, during a speech in which he reiterated his pledge to build a wall between the US and Mexico, but did not speak specifically about barring Muslims temporarily from the country as he has done in the past.

Responding to the acceptance speech, David Duke, an American white nationalist and former “Grand Wizard” of the Klu Klux Klan, described Mr Trump’s words as “great”, adding: “America First! Stop Wars! Defeat the Corrupt elites! Protect our Borders!, Fair Trade! Couldn’t have said it better!”

Mr Duke is known in the US for his extreme right-wing views. In 1974, he founded the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana, later leaving the group to form the National Association for the Advancement of White People.

Earlier this year, Mr Trump came under fire for failing to reject an endorsement from Mr Duke, in which he implored listeners to vote for the tycoon and one-time reality show host.

In February, Politico reported that he told listeners of the David Duke Radio Programme: “Voting against Donald Trump at this point, is really treason to your heritage.

“I do support his candidacy, and I support voting for him as a strategic action. I hope he does everything we hope he will do.”

He further detailed his support for the Trump campaign on Facebook.

When asked if he condemned Mr Duke’s comments, Mr Trump told CNN: “I don’t know anything about David Duke. OK? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists, So, I don’t know.”

He was lambasted by Mr Trump’s former Republican presidential nominee rival Marco Rubio, who said: “We cannot be a party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan.”

Democrat Bernie Sanders also said at the time: “America's first black president cannot and will not be succeeded by a hatemonger who refuses to condemn the KKK.”

Following the CNN interview, Mr Trump said over Twitter that he “disavowed” Mr Duke.