French President Francois Hollande made references to a row between Donald Trump and the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier, which has shaken Trump's presidential campaign. Hollande criticized Trump and said his comments about Khizr Khan and Ghazala Khan had been "hurtful and humiliating."

"His excesses make you want to retch, even in the United States, especially when - as was Donald Trump's case - he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande told journalists in Paris, while warning US voters about the prospect of a Trump presidency.

Speaking about politicians in general, Hollande said "they should be respected when they are respectable."

Effects felt in France

Hollande stressed that a Trump victory in the US in November could also affect France's presidential election in the spring of 2017. Hollande has not announced so far if he intends to seek re-election.

Trump's remarks have not made him many friends recently, with opinion polls showing a slump in support

"Democracy is also at stake, as we see more and more people tempted by authoritarianism, especially in the United States," Hollande said. "Should the American people choose Trump, there will be consequences, because a US election is a global election."

"It could lead to a very strong turn to the right in the world (...). The American campaign shows issues that will be reflected in the French campaign," Hollande, who faces strong competition from far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, added.

A growing chorus

Earlier in the day, incumbent US President Barack Obama had also lashed out at Trump, calling him "woefully unprepared" to become president, and urging Republicans to withdraw their support of the presidential hopeful. Obama made references to Trump's apparent gaps of knowledge in economics and foreign affairs.

"The question they have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?" Obama said at a news conference at the White House.

"This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily."

Trump, however, was quick to react to Obama's words:

ss/bw (AFP, Reuters