(Photo By Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has split again from some of his Republican opponents – claiming that Kentucky clerk Kim Davis “violated the law of the land”.

The billionaire businessman and Apprentice boss is one of 17 Republicans running for the Presidential nomination – and though he started the race opposed to LGBT equality, has rapidly shifted on the issue since same-sex marriage became law in all 50 states.

Mr Trump has since split from the party by admitting that opposing equal marriage is a “dead issue” – and also split by suggesting it should be against the law to discriminate against employees based on sexuality.

He spoke out again over the case of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who has been strongly defended by Presidential contenders including Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul after she defied court orders to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Davis was later jailed for contempt of court.

Speaking to MSNBC, Mr Trump said that while he “hates” to see anyone in jail for contempt of court, Davis should not have prevented others in her office from issuing marriage licenses.

He said: “I would say the simple answer is ‘let her [deputies] do it’. From what I understand, she wasn’t letting her deputies do it either.

Continuing, he said: “I hate to see her being put in jail… but from what I understand, she wouldn’t allow other people in her office to do it.

“You have to go with it… you have to go with it. The [Supreme Court] decision has been made, and that is the law of the land.”

The Republican added: “It’s a very tough situation, but we are a nation of laws.

“The Supreme Court has ruled. It would be nice to have other people in her office do what they have to do [and begin issuing licenses].”

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Shortly after Mr Trump’s comments, the clerk’s deputies did begin to issue licenses to same-sex couples.