Stars of the entertainment world have condemned US President Donald Trump on social media after he refused to denounce white supremacists after the violent rally in Charlottesville.

Speaking at a press conference that was supposed to be about infrastructure, Trump responded to the incident and said there was "blame on both sides". He attacked what he referred to as the "alt-left" protesters.

He has already been criticised since his initial reaction to the rally which took place last week, where he refused to denounce people in attendance who were seen waving Nazi flags and performing the Hitler salute.

At one point, he said that the protest, which was attended by members of the KKK, included some "very fine people".

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

His comments have caused uproar, with some fellow Republicans criticising him for failing to establish that racism and hate would not be tolerated by the White House.

John McCain tweeted: "There's no moral ecquivalency between racists and Americans standing up to defy hate and bigotry. The president of the United States should say so."

He was backed up by one of Trump's rival Republican presidential candidates, Jeb Bush, who stated: "This is a time for moral clarity, not ambivalence. I urge President Trump to unite the country, not parse the assignment of blame for the events in Charlottesville.

"For the sake of our country, he must leave no room for doubt that racism and hatred will not be tolerated or ignored by the White House."

Prolific figures in film, music, comedy and television also reacted to Trump's remarks, speaking out on social media to condemn him.

TV legend and Air Force veteran Norman Lear wrote: "I fought Nazis in World War II. They aren't 'very fine people'."

Filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted: "OMG. What did we just watch? He blamed the anti-racism protesters. He likened George Washington to Robert E. Lee. Donald. Trump. F***. You."

Jimmy Kimmel said he hadn't seen "anything that crazy since Tyson bit Holyfield".

Author JK Rowling noted that it was "now impossible for any Trump supporter to pretend they don't know what he is".

During the press conference, Trump accused the media of "changing history, changing culture" for treating the people who were holding the rally "very badly".

He reaffirmed his statement that there were "bad people" on both sides of the violence.

Soon after the press conference, the hashtag #ImpeachTrump was a top trend in both the US and the UK.