United States President Donald Trump has distanced himself from supporters' chants of "send her back" after he criticised Somali-born Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar at a rally in North Carolina.

Key points: The chants came after Mr Trump launched into an attack on congresswoman Ilhan Omar

The chants came after Mr Trump launched into an attack on congresswoman Ilhan Omar He did not try to stop the chants at the time, but told reporters he would in future

He did not try to stop the chants at the time, but told reporters he would in future Federal Republican politicians have broken their silence to condemn the chant

"I felt a little bit badly about it," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about the chants.

"I would say that I was not happy with it. I disagreed with it. But again I didn't say that. They did. And I disagreed with."

He said he "would certainly try" to stop the chant should it return at a subsequent rally.

The self-described "squad" of Democratic congresswomen of colour. ( ABC News )

The Democratic 'squad' New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is of Puerto Rican descent

New York congresswoman is of Puerto Rican descent Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is of African-American descent

Massachusetts congresswoman is of African-American descent Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is of Palestinian descent

Michigan congresswoman is of Palestinian descent Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia and emigrated to the US at age 12 after spending much of her childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp

The chants fuelled widespread criticism of Mr Trump's remarks earlier in the week that targeted four Democratic congresswomen of colour — known as "the squad" — whom he told to "go back to the places from which they came".

All four of the women come from racially diverse backgrounds, and only one of them, Ms Omar, is foreign-born.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Mr Trump claimed he tried to stop the chant, which came after he launched into a series of attacks against Ms Omar at the rally.

Video shows the President paused in his remarks but did not admonish his supporters as they chanted.

Republicans step up to condemn chant

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, centre, said it was time to lower "racism's rhetoric". ( AP: J Scott Applewhite )

The Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters that such cries "have no place in our party and no place in this country".

But Mr McCarthy, a staunch presidential ally, said the President's aversion to Ms Omar was based on ideology, not race.

"This is about socialism versus freedom," he said, a refrain Republicans are increasingly using as they begin trying to frame their offensive against Democrats for the 2020 presidential and congressional campaigns.

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Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger tweeted that the "send her back" chant was:

"Ugly, wrong, [and] would send chills down the spines of our Founding Fathers. This ugliness must end, or we risk our great union."

Republican Tom Emmer, who heads the House of Representatives' campaign organisation, told reporters, "There's no place for that kind of talk. I don't agree with it."

But Mr Emmer defended Mr Trump, saying there isn't "a racist bone in this President's body" and asserted that Mr Trump delivered his remarks in a "wrong" manner.

"What he was trying to say is that if you don't appreciate this country, you don't have to be here. That goes for every one of us," he said.

"It has nothing to do with your race, your gender, your family history. It has to do with respecting and loving the country that has given you the opportunities which you have."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Fox Business News that it's time to "lower the rhetoric" about racism.

He did not mention the crowd's chants or Mr Trump's acceptance of them.

The Democratic-led House voted on Tuesday to condemn Mr Trump's tweets as racist, and struck down one Democratic representative's attempt to impeach Mr Trump.

ABC/AP