Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman has claimed “the Jews” knew Donald Trump would win the US election.

Maria Zakharova told a TV chat show in Russia that to gauge such political outcomes in the future, “don’t read the mainstream newspapers”.

“Our people in Brighton [Beach] will tell you everything,” she said, referring to a district of New York which is home to a large number of Jewish emigres from the former Soviet Union.

Ms Zakharova was speaking about her visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September, reported Radio Free Europe.

Keen to find out what Americans were thinking in the run up to the general election, she claimed the best thing to do was to “talk to the Jews, of course”.

At this, the studio audience reportedly applauded.

Putting on a mock-Jewish accent, the 40-year-old said Jewish people had told her: “‘Understand this – we'll donate to Clinton, of course. But we'll give the Republicans twice that amount.’

“That was it. The matter was settled for me, personally.”

The diplomat’s remarks, made on 13 November, have been widely condemned.

Former US ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul wrote on Facebook: “Wow. And this is the woman who criticises me for not being diplomatic.”

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And Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian opposition activist, wrote on Twitter: “Turns out the spokesperson (Ms Zakharova) explained Trump’s victory as a Jewish conspiracy.”