At first glance the original story didn't quite add up: the iconic filmmaker David Lynch weighing into US politics to declare American president Donald Trump "one of the greatest presidents in history".

Now, in the wake of criticism and the perhaps unsurprising footnote that Trump took the remarks as the highest of compliments, the legendary filmmaker has taken steps to clarify his remarks.

He is in fact not a Trump fan, as the quote seemed to imply, rather he feels that Trump is causing "suffering and division".

In the original interview, Lynch's remark about Trump was made in reference to his disruptive and chaotic style of policy-on-the-run and self-contradiction.