Fox News has apologised after airing a graphic reading "Trump cuts US aid to 3 Mexican countries".

The Fox & Friends Weekend program supposedly meant to say three "Central American countries", after President Donald Trump cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Hours after the graphic went to air, co-host Ed Henry said "we apologise for the error - it never should've happened".

Twitter

The backlash on social media has been swift against the network, which critics say is too close to Mr Trump.

RAICES, an immigration legal services provider, said it was "a new low" for Fox News.

According to @FoxNews, the countries in Central America to which @realDonaldTrump cut much-needed aid — El Salvador, Guatemala, & Honduras — are now part of Mexico.



A new low for @FoxNews, when we thought they couldn't go lower. https://t.co/q3SoMtpfCE — RAICES (@RAICESTEXAS) March 31, 2019

While rising star of the Democratic party Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that "these are the same folks who assert their superiority by belittling the intelligence and good faith of others".

“3 Mexican Countries.”



Just a reminder that these are the same folks who assert their superiority by belittling the intelligence and good faith of others.https://t.co/7JA1kCdIoS pic.twitter.com/CwINMXAarO — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 31, 2019

And serval social media users said the error was racist.

Are you saying all Latin American countries look alike? pic.twitter.com/Zx8w5c0vTD — Jessica Fletcher (@heckyessica) March 31, 2019

Mr Trump announced the policy change last week, insisting the three countries weren't doing enough to stop the flow of migrants to the US.

The aid had gone to fund programs to combat gangs and foster development, with the aim of addressing the root causes of the mass migration.

Mr Trump said, "We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we're not paying them anymore because they haven't done a thing".

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In response to the aid cuts, Honduras proposed Sunday that it, Guatemala and El Salvador consider undertaking joint initiatives "to ensure the sovereignty and dignity of each nation" in light of "the contradictory policies of the United States".

Additional reporting: AFP