President Donald Trump launched his 2020 re-election campaign on Friday night with a defiant address before some 9,000 supporters in Florida.

Despite Mr Trump having only served one month in office the White House labelled the rally a campaign event, and the president himself told reporters, "life is a campaign. Making our country great again is a campaign."

After a gruelling stretch in which courts blocked his immigration and refugee ban, two prominent figures declined to replace Michael Flynn as national security adviser following his resignation and reports emerged of links between his former aides and Russian intelligence, Mr Trump embraced the opportunity to stand before an adoring throng.

At one point he invited a supporter on stage, to the horror of the Secret Service. After Gene Huber took the podium and praised Mr Trump the president remarked, "a star is born".