Slavery is good history are not four words one often hears uttered in the same sentence but Donald Trump’s former campaign spokesperson appears to think it is a plausible clause.

Katrina Pierson, who was national campaign spokeswoman for President Trump during the election, made the assertion while attempting to defend the continued existence of Confederate statues in the US.

Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi has been campaigning for the removal of Confederate statues in the wake of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville which saw Neo-Nazis, KKK members, and “alt-right” activists descend on the Virginia city to protest the removal of such a statue there.

Clashes between the far-right and anti-fascist protesters broke out and scores were left injured and one killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of anti-fascist demonstrators.

During an appearance on Fox and Friends, Ms Pierson launched into an attack on the Democrat leader's campaign to pull down the statues.

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.

“Pelosi wants to help these anarchists and these violent protestors tear down pieces of America, American culture and American history,” she said.

Fellow guest Wendy Osefo, a Johns Hopkins University professor, interjected to say the monuments were not “a symbol of patriotism” but instead stood for “hatred and division” and should be kept in museums rather than on state grounds.

But Ms Pierson hit back, saying: “It absolutely deserves a place because bad history is still good history for this country.”

Ms Osefo then asked: “Slavery is good history?”

Ms Pierson replied: “Considering where we are today! Where we are today! Absolutely!”

Ms Pierson voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and previously stated Malcolm X was her political hero and Martin Luther King was too “moderate”.

But she joined the American Tea Party movement in 2009 and has since become famed for her controversies. Branded “Hurricane Katrina” by Texas Monthly, her appearances on CNN have ended in a number of gaffes.

She incorrectly said that "tens of thousands" of troops had died in Iraq since 2004, and that Barack Obama had invaded Afghanistan when it was under George W Bush.

What’s more, she blamed Barack Obama for the 2004 death of soldier captain Humayan Khan despite the fact his death took place five years before Obama became president.

Ms Pelosi joined a group of other Democrats in demanding the removal of the statues from the Capitol last week.