Donald Trump's campaign on Saturday portrayed Hillary Clinton's remark that half the Republican nominee's supporters fell into a "basket of deplorables" as elitist, and even disqualifying.

The former secretary of state made the controversial comments during a fundraising event in New York City on Friday night.

"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables," she said. "They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophic."

The Trump campaign quickly responded with a statement, contending that the comments revealed Mrs Clinton's "true contempt for everyday Americans".