Donald Trump condemns alt-right supporters who hailed him as their ‘champion’

PRESIDENT-elect Donald Trump has “disavowed and condemned” his far-right supporters after they hailed him their victor and champion during a recent gathering.

In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump said: “Of course… I disavow and condemn them.”

When asked for his opinion on American “alt-right” group the National Policy Institute, which includes neo-Nazis, white nationalists and anti-Semites, Trump said: “It’s not a group I want to energise.

"And if they are energised I want to look into it and find out why.”

Trump's alt-right supporters were filmed in Washington DC on Sunday, cheering and raising their arms in the Nazi salute as leader Richard Spencer said: “Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!”

In a clip of the rally, Spencer said America belongs to white people, whom he described as “children of the sun”.

Spencer also called for a 50-year freeze on immigration to America during the National Policy Institute event.

The President-elect's disavowal of alt-right groups come following his appointment of Steve Bannon as his White House Chief Strategist.

Bannon, 62, is the executive chairman of the far-right website Breitbart News, which has previously boasted about being a “platform for the alt-right”.

Trump defended his newly-appointed Chief Strategist, insisting Breitbart is “just a publication”.

He said: “I’ve known Steve Bannon a long time.

“If I thought he was a racist or alt-right… I wouldn't even think about hiring him.”

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