Donald Trump praised a former hockey star and disgraced NBC contributor who was fired from his role after appearing on a podcast and discussing having a threesome with his co-worker.

At a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, the president called Jeremy Roenick a "friend" who will "beat you physically" in golf. Mr Roenick was attending the rally.

"He doesn't care", he said. "He was the toughest hockey player. He was one of those guys who could beat you one way, and if he couldn't, he'd just beat them up."

The crowd cheered when the president mentioned Mr Roenick, who played with the Phoenix Coyotes during his 20-year career in the National Hockey League.

"Thank you, Jeremy", Mr Trump said. "He's a winner."

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Mr Roenick was suspended then fired after a 19 December appearance on Barstool's "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, on which he discussed the possibility of a threesome with his wife and now-former co-worker Kathryn Tappen.

On the podcast, he shared a story about how he attracted attention while visiting Portugal with his wife and co-worker: "I play it off like, you know, we're going to bed together every night, the three of us. Now, if it really came to fruition, that would really be good, but it's never going to happen."

He also said he would consider having sex with a former teammate: "He is so beautiful. I'd have to think about it if he asked me."

Following his suspension, he apologised on social media for his "insensitive comments" and said he "never meant to offend anyone".

"I definitely went too far and for that I deeply regret it", he said.

One month later, he said of his firing: "What a joke!"

In a video on social media, he said he was "disappointed and angry" that he wasn't invited back to NBC.