Donald Trump has been accused of "slut shaming" US senator Kirsten Gillibrand after she urged him to resign over accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against him.

Key points: Trump accused of "slut shaming" Gillibrand after she urged him to quit

Trump accused of "slut shaming" Gillibrand after she urged him to quit Trump said she had begged for campaign contributions "and would do anything for them"

Trump said she had begged for campaign contributions "and would do anything for them" Democrats rallied behind Gillibrand and accused Trump of bullying and intimidation

Mr Trump lambasted Senator Gillibrand on Twitter overnight, writing: "Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office 'begging' for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump."

At a White House event later on, Mr Trump did not answer a reporter's question when asked what he meant by the tweet.

But White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders rejected suggestions that the "and would do anything for them" line was a crude sexual innuendo.

"He's not alleging anything, he's talking about the way our system functions as it is. That politicians repeatedly beg for money. That's not something new and that comment, frankly isn't something new," Ms Sanders said.

"If you look back at the comments this President has made, he has used that same terminology many times in reference to men. There's no way that this is sexist at all."

"Many including the senator [Gillibrand] think that this is about sexual innuendo," prompted another reporter.

To which Ms Sanders said: "Only if your mind is in the gutter would you have read it that way, so no."

Senator Gillibrand, whose name has been floated as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, said she would not back down.

She told a media conference: "It was a sexist smear attempting to silence my voice, and I will not be silenced on this issue."

In a tweet, she said Mr Trump had brought shame to the presidency.

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Other Democrats rallied behind Senator Gillibrand, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, another possible 2020 presidential candidate.

In a tweet directed at Mr Trump, Senator Warren wrote: "Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slut-shame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you're picking a fight with? Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted."

Senator Gillibrand said on Tuesday that Mr Trump should resign because there were credible accusations against him.

Barring that, she said: "Congress should investigate the multiple sexual harassment and assault allegations against him."

Mr Trump has pushed back against women accusing him of sexual misconduct, insisting he is the target of "false accusations" and "fabricated stories" from women he did not know and had never met.

Sorry, this video has expired White House says 'no way' Gillibrand tweet was sexist

AP/Reuters