Donald Trump has insisted "I don't have a racist bone in my body" as a race row between the president and four Democrat congresswomen escalates.

Referring to tweets he had sent on Sunday where he said the women should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came", Mr Trump came out today to defend himself.

"Those Tweets were NOT Racist," he said.

"I don't have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show 'weakness' and fall into their trap.

"This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat Congresswomen, who I truly believe, based on their actions, hate our Country. Get a list of the HORRIBLE things they have said."


The president went on to list how each congresswoman is polling, before signing off: "See you in 2020!"

It comes after the president stepped up his war of words with the four women, accusing them of saying "filthy and hate-laced things".

Over the last two days the US president has been engaged in a feud with the foursome known as "The Squad".

Last night, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib held a news conference to urge Americans "not to take the bait", with Ms Pressley adding that Mr Trump's insults were "simply a disruption and a distraction from the callous chaos and corrupt culture of this administration".

Donald Trump has decided he does not want to be President of the United States.



He does not want to be a President to those who disagree.



And he’d rather see most Americans leave than handle our nation’s enshrined tradition of dissent.



But we don’t leave the things we love. 🇺🇸 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 16, 2019

Hitting back at "The Squad" this morning, Mr Trump tweeted: "The Democrat Congresswomen ave been spewing some of the most vile, hateful, and disgusting things ever said by a politician in the House or Senate, & yet they get a free pass and a big embrace from the Democrat Party. Horrible anti-Israel, anti-USA, pro-terrorist & public...

"...shouting of the F...word, among many other terrible things, and the petrified Dems run for the hills. Why isn't the House voting to rebuke the filthy and hate laced things they have said? Because they are the Radical Left, and the Democrats are afraid to take them on. Sad!"

.....shouting of the F...word, among many other terrible things, and the petrified Dems run for the hills. Why isn’t the House voting to rebuke the filthy and hate laced things they have said? Because they are the Radical Left, and the Democrats are afraid to take them on. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019

If you come after the President, the Country, the Flag - he’s going to defend himself. What the squad doesn’t like is that Donald Trump is enforcing the very laws that are on the books that were put there by Congress.” Jason Chaffetz. Also, buy Jason’s great new book, POWER GRAB! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019

Responding to the president, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: "Donald Trump has decided he does not want to be President of the United States. He does not want to be a President to those who disagree.

"And he'd rather see most Americans leave than handle our nation's enshrined tradition of dissent. But we don't leave the things we love."

Hey Mr. President, remember when you bragged about sexually assaulting women, talking about feeling their breasts and genitals, because “when you’re a star they let you do it?”



And then you imposed DOE policies to make it harder for sexual assault survivors to report assault? https://t.co/Y2sa2TUcbl — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 16, 2019

"The Squad" have all been long-time critics of Mr Trump's immigration policy and have criticised the treatment of immigrants in border camps and crackdowns by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Though Mr Trump suggested they "go back" and later said "you can leave", all four women of colour are US citizens.

Just one, Ilhan Omar, was born outside the US.

Prime Minister Theresa May said Mr Trump's comments were "completely unacceptable", while US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they showed the president's plan was to "make America white again".

Ocasio-Cortez: Trump can't defend policies so he attacks us

Despite many established Democrats in the US previously appearing to distance themselves from the group, they have now rallied around their colleagues in the face of the president's remarks about them.