Donald Trump has called Stormy Daniels "horseface" in a fiery tweet, after a judge dismissed her defamation action against the US president.

In the post, in which he misspelt the adult actress's name, Mr Trump also hit out at her lawyer Michael Avenatti.

Daniels sued the president in April for saying her drawing of a man she claimed threatened her in 2011 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Mr Trump was a "con job".

The president tweeted that the man was "nonexistent" and Ms Daniels was playing the "fake news media for fools".

He also retweeted a photo comparing the sketch she drew of the man with a photo of her husband.


“Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees.” @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018

In Tuesday's celebratory tweet, the US leader wrote: "Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees." @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas.

"She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!"

Reacting on Twitter, Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, hit back.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your president. In addition to his...umm...shortcomings, he has demonstrated his incompetence, hatred of women and lack of self control on Twitter AGAIN! And perhaps a penchant for bestiality. Game on, Tiny. https://t.co/6DpDD5ELtj — Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) 16 October 2018

While quoting Mr Trump's tweet, she wrote: "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your president. In addition to his...umm...shortcomings, he has demonstrated his incompetence, hatred of women and lack of self control on Twitter AGAIN! And perhaps a penchant for bestiality. Game on, Tiny."

She later added: "Also, can someone please teach Tiny about correct punctuation? We already knew you're a con, though. #triggeredhim #slowreader #commasarehard."

The insults come after District Judge S James Otero ruled that Mr Trump had made a "hyperbolic statement" against a political adversary, which is protected under the US constitution's First Amendment, when he commented on the sketch released by the porn star's lawyer.

A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)! https://t.co/9Is7mHBFda — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018

"If this court were to prevent Mr Trump from engaging in this type of 'rhetorical hyperbole' against a political adversary, it would significantly hamper the office of the president," the judge wrote in an order handed down on Monday.

"Any strongly-worded response by a president to another politician or public figure could constitute an action for defamation. This would deprive this country of the 'discourse' common to the political process."

Daniels' lawyer Mr Avenatti said he would lodge an appeal and said he was confident the judgement would be reversed.

What you didn't know about Stormy Daniels

"There is something really rich in Trump relying on the First Amendment to justify defaming a woman," he said.

The president's lawyer Charles Harder said: "No amount of spin or commentary by Stormy Daniels or her lawyer, Mr Avenatti, can truthfully characterise today's ruling in any way other than total victory for President Trump and total defeat for Stormy Daniels."

Monday's ruling also means Mr Trump is entitled to collect legal fees from Daniels.

Mr Harder said the amount would be determined later.

The defamation claim is separate from Daniels' other lawsuit against the the president, which is ongoing.

She was paid $130,000 (£99,000) as part of a nondisclosure agreement, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential election. She is suing to dissolve that contract.

The adult performer argues the agreement should be invalidated as the president's personal lawyer at the time - Michael Cohen - signed it and not Mr Trump.

The president and Cohen's lawyers now say the deal was invalid and that they will not sue Daniels for breaking it.

Mr Trump's lawyer said the leader never considered himself as a party to the deal and does not dispute Ms Daniels' assertion that the contract is not valid.

Both Mr Trump and Cohen want the case thrown out, but Daniels' lawyer wants to keep the lawsuit alive in a bid to have the president answer questions under oath about what he may have known about the agreement.

In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations alleging he coordinated with the president on a hush-money scheme to buy the silence of Daniels and a Playboy model, who also claims to have had an affair with Mr Trump.