Donald Trump mocked climate change saying that the US east coast "could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming" as temperatures plunged to levels that froze sharks to death.

Mr Trump used the arctic conditions gripping the country to vindicate his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord earlier this year.

Writing on Twitter, from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, he said: "In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year's Eve on record. "Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against. Bundle up!"

Democrats slammed the comments as "embarrassing". Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading contender to take on Mr Trump for the White House in 2020, said: "I’m going to say something really crazy. I believe in science. Climate change is real and we have a moral obligation to protect this Earth for our children and grandchildren."