Donald Trump enters EU referendum debate to declare his support for Brexit

Republican frontrunner says EU has encouraged immigration which has been 'a horrible thing for Europe'

Donald Trump has said he would support the UK withdrawing from Europe (Getty)

Donald Trump has said he thinks Britain would be better off outside the European Union.

The Republican candidate, who is now all but certain to become the party’s nominee at the convention in July, told Fox News he supported Brexit because immigration has been “a horrible thing for Europe”.

He said: “A lot of that was pushed by the EU. I would say that they're better off without it personally, but I'm not making that as a recommendation - just my feeling.

“I know Great Britain very well. I know, you know, the country very well. I have a lot of investments there.

“I would say that they're better off without it, but I want them to make their own decision”.

The billionaire will most likely to face Hillary Clinton in the Presidential election this November after his remaining rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race when it became clear they could not beat the frontrunner after his success at the Indiana primary.

It comes after Prime Minister, David Cameron, said Mr Trump “deserves our respect” for winning the nomination but declined to withdraw his previous criticism of his call for a ban on Muslims entering the US.

During a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, he said: “Knowing the gruelling nature of the primaries, what you have to go through to go on and represent your party in a general election – anyone who makes it through that deserves our respect.

“What I said about Muslims, I wouldn’t change that view. I’m very clear that the policy idea that was put forward was wrong. It is wrong, and it will remain wrong.”

Additional reporting by Reuters