Donald Trump has hit back at Jay-Z after the rapper called him a "superbug" and claimed he is "in pain".

Appearing on CNN's The Van Jones Show, Jay-Z said racism in the US had got worse as leaders "haven't fixed anything".

"You don't take the trash out," he said. "You keep spraying whatever over it to make it acceptable and then, you know, as those things grow, then you create a superbug.

"And then now we have Donald Trump, the superbug. Somewhere along his lineage something happened to him...and he's in pain and he's expressing it in this sort of way."

Image: Jay-Z, pictured with wife Beyonce, described Mr Trump as a 'superbug'

Regarding the US' black unemployment rate, which has hit a record low, Jay-Z was asked by Jones: "Maybe he says terrible things but puts money in our pocket.


"Does that make him a good leader?"

The rapper replied: "No, because it's not about money at the end of the day.

"Money...doesn't equate to happiness. That's missing the whole point: to treat people like human beings."

Hitting back at Jay-Z, Mr Trump tweeted: "Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!"

Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

He added: "Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before.

"Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!"

There was no apparent response from Jay-Z but Van Jones did answer.

He tweeted: "Someone needs to inform @realdonaldtrump that I ALREADY asked Jay Z whether black employment figures redeem Trump's presidency.

Someone needs to inform @realdonaldtrump that I ALREADY asked Jay Z whether black employment figures redeem Trump’s presidency. And Jay’s answer last night on the #VanJonesShow was POWERFUL !!! ... Watch the VIDEO for yourself: https://t.co/7Sv3rHKkmW https://t.co/jbHpkKOM5o — Van Jones (@VanJones68) January 28, 2018

"And Jay's answer last night on the #VanJonesShow was POWERFUL!!!".

While black unemployment was 6.8% in December - the lowest since records began in 1972 - the trend started well before Mr Trump took office.

According to The Washington Post, it was 13.7% when Barack Obama took office but had dropped to 7.8% by the time Mr Trump took office.