US First Lady Melania Trump says women who make accusations of sexual abuse "need to be heard" and supported, but so do men.

Key points: US first lady Melania Trump says women making sexual abuse accusations must show "really hard evidence"

US first lady Melania Trump says women making sexual abuse accusations must show "really hard evidence" President Donald Trump has previously said it is a "very scary time for young men in America"

President Donald Trump has previously said it is a "very scary time for young men in America" Mr Trump said new Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh was caught up in a "hoax that was set up by the Democrats"

Ms Trump was interviewed on her Kenya trip by the American Broadcasting Corporation, which aired portions on Good Morning America.

She was speaking in the wake of the controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, who was accused of sexual assault in the 1980s.

Ms Trump said accusations needed to be backed by "really hard evidence" and accusers should "show the evidence".

"I support the women, and they need to be heard. We need to support them. And, you know, also men, not just women," she said when asked whether she supported the MeToo movement.

"I do stand with women, but we need to show the evidence. You cannot just say to somebody, 'I was sexually assaulted,' or, 'You did that to me,' because sometimes the media goes too far, and the way they portray some stories it's, it's not correct, it's not right."

Mr Trump, accused of sexual assault by numerous women over the years, has said it's "a scary time" for men facing allegations from years ago, as with Mr Kavanaugh.

Mr Kavanaugh denied the allegations, as has Mr Trump.

Asked about the accusations against Mr Kavanaugh, Mr Trump said it was troubling that people were found "automatically guilty" and had to prove their innocence.

"It's a very scary time for young men in America, when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of. This is a very, very, very difficult time," he said.

"You could be somebody that was perfect your entire life, and somebody could accuse you of something — doesn't necessarily has to be a woman … But somebody could accuse you of something, and you're automatically guilty."

Sorry, this video has expired Donald Trump says it is a "very scary time for young men in America"

Mr Trump followed up those comments with a speech at a rally in Mississippi where he mocked Mr Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, for not having answers to some questions during her testimony.

"What neighbourhood was it in? I don't know. Where's the house? I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know. But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember," Mr Trump said in imitation of Ms Ford's testimony.

"And a man's life is in tatters," he added.

Sorry, this video has expired Trump angry at calls to impeach Brett Kavanaugh

Upon Mr Kavanaugh's swearing in as a Supreme Court justice, Mr Trump apologised to Mr Kavanaugh and his family for the "terrible pain and suffering", having earlier said Mr Kavanaugh was "caught up in a hoax that was set up by the Democrats".

"It was all made up, it was fabricated and it's a disgrace," he said.

AP/ABC