Radio host Rush Limbaugh says Donald Trump told him to “never apologise” for remarks he made about openly gay Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigeig.

Speaking on his show, longtime conservative commentator Mr Limbaugh described receiving a private call from the president: “He said, ‘Rush, never apologise, don’t ever apologise.’ I said, ‘for what?’ Well, I had no idea this thing had even bubbled up, you know?”

The White House has not confirmed whether or when the call to Mr Limbaugh happened.

In his original remarks, Mr Limbaugh referred to the candidate as "Booty-geig" and questioned whether the US was ready for a gay president. “A gay guy, 37 years old, loves kissing his husband on debate stages,” he said. “Can you see Trump have fun with that?”

After describing Trump's call, Mr Limbaugh went on to theorise about the reaction to his original comments.

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“I think [the media] are mad about my remarks about mayor Pete because, I think, they think a lot of people didn’t know that he’s gay ... Why aren’t you supposed to mention it? Answer that yourself.”

Mr Trump responded to Mr Limbaugh’s original remarks with moderation, saying that Americans probably wouldn’t reject a gay president – and that while there are some who would, “I wouldn’t be among that group, to be honest with you."

At a CNN Democratic town hall after Mr Limbaugh recounted Mr Trump’s call, Mr Buttigeig laughed off the idea that the two men are in a position to lecture him or anyone about family values.

Invoking Trump’s sexual relationship with adult film actress Stormy Daniels, he said: “One thing about my marriage is it’s never involved me having to send hush money to a porn star after cheating on my spouse.”

Mr Limbaugh has a long history of homophobic remarks, including complaining about what he calls the “homosexual agenda”, which he feels has put heterosexuals “under assault”.