John Oliver has launched a typically blistering attack on US President Donald Trump over his failure to single out a group of neo-Nazis and white nationalists who staged a violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend.

Violent clashes between white nationalists and anti-fascist protestors broke out, and one woman died after a car drove into a group of counter-demonstrators.

People were seen carrying torches, waving Nazi flags and performing the Nazi salute at the march which took place on Friday 11 August.

Oliver opened his Last Week Tonight programme on Sunday evening by addressing the events, including Trump's poorly-received response and his refusal to denounce the white nationalists.

"It was truly a weekend of horrifying images," Oliver said. "We saw Nazi flags and marchers carrying torches - tiki torches by the way - because nothing says 'white nationalist' like faux Polynesian kitsch."

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Responding to Trump's tweet where he condemned the "display of hatred, bigotry and violence - on many sides", he added: "Wait... on many sides?! This was a white nationalist rally - you have to call that out by name.

"There aren't many instances in modern American politics where you can honestly think: 'That guy really should have mentioned the Nazis' but this is emphatically one of them. It's like a reverse Godwin's Law: if you fail to mention Nazism, you lose the argument."

Former KKK leader David Duke was among those present at the Charlottesville rally, where he was recorded saying that protestors were "determined to take [our] country back".

"We're going to fulfil the promises of Donald Trump," he said. "That's what we believe in, that's why we voted for Donald Trump."

(Getty Images) (Getty)

"David Duke and the Nazis really seem to like Donald Trump, which is weird because Nazis are a lot like cats: If they like you, it's probably because you're feeding them," Oliver observed.

Of Trump's refusal to condemn the white nationalists who had explicitly said they were participating in the rally because they supported him, Oliver continued: "Here's the problem with that: A non-answer in a moment like this is an answer. And look, don't take that just from me. White nationalists seemed pretty clear about the message Trump had sent to them with his response.

"Look, maybe Trump will eventually take a second swing at personally condemning the white nationalists. Maybe he has since we've taped this show. But even if he does, it'll be too late. Because his first response is who he is. And the truly infuriating thing is how predictable this was.

"It simply doesn't get easier than disavowing Nazis. It's as much of a presidential gimme as pardoning a f***ing turkey. It is almost impossible to screw that up. But that's exactly what happened.

"So there is clearly no point waiting for leadership from our president in moments like this, because it is just not coming, which means we will have to look to one another, because incredibly, in a country where previous presidents have actually had to defeat Nazis, we now have one who cannot even be bothered to f***ing condemn them."

32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed after a car was driven into anti-facism protestors who were attempting to stop the "unite the right" rally, which included members of the Klu Klux Klan. 26 more were injured in the incident.

Eye-witnesses claimed that the car was deliberately driven into the crowd, but there has been no official confirmation of that. Video footage showed screams as people were thrown into the air after being hit at considerable speed by the vehicle.

A suspect named as James Alex Fields Jr, 20, of Ohio, was arrested on charges of inlcuding second-degree murder. His mother has said she did not know he was going to Virginia for a white nationalist rally, and had believed it had something to do with Trump.

His former teacher, Derek Weimer, told CNN that Fields had "outlandish, very radical beliefs".

"It was quite clear that he had some really extreme views and maybe a little bit of anger behind them," he said. "Feeling, what's the word I'm looking for, oppressed or persecuted. He really brought into this white supremacist thing. He was very big into Nazism. He really had a fondness for Adolf Hitler."