Donald Trump has sparked controversy for signing bibles of Alabama residents who were hit by a deadly storm that claimed 23 lives.

The president made the unusual gesture while visiting a Baptist church in Opelika which is serving as a disaster relief centre.

Local volunteer Ada Ingram told reporters Mr Trump signed several hats and bibles - including one for a 12-year-old boy - prompting a crowd of onlookers to erupt into applause.

Ms Ingram, who said she voted for Mr Trump and would again in 2020, said: “I enjoyed him coming. I think it’s a godsend. I’m sorry. The situation is bad.

“And there are going to be people who will say ‘why did he come to my town?’ I don’t know why. I don’t why the hurricane happened [either]. But there is a reason.”

Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Show all 15 1 /15 Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Tornado in Dothan, Alabama on March 3 AFP/Getty Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Debris and a damaged house following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 People walk amid debris in Lee County, Alabama AP Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Damage in Lee County, Alabama AP Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 A funnel shaped cloud on the I-10 near Marianna, Florida on March 3. Tornado warnings have been issued across the southeast of the US AP Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 House debris following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 A tornado in the distance at Warner Robins, Georgia on March 3 @KEITH_IRWIN/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 A fallen pylon lies across Route 280 in Lee County, Alabama AP Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Fallen trees lie across a road following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Damaged trees seen following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 People look on at clean-up efforts following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 People clear fallen trees and debris from a road following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Fallen trees following a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama on March 3 Scott Fillmer/Reuters Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Tornado in Dothan, Alabama on March 3 AFP/Getty Tornado tears through Alabama killing 23 Emergency responders work in the scene amid debris in Lee County, Alabama AP

Emily Pike, another volunteer, said the president and and first lady Melania Trump signed her 10-year-old daughter’s Bible, which was already decorated with pink camouflage.

Mr Trump’s bible signing in the storm-ravaged rural town of Beauregard – which has been hit by the most deadly tornado in the US in six years – has sparked criticism.

“In Trump’s defence, he wrote as much of the bible as ‘Art of The Deal,’” one user tweeted, referring to the first of more than a dozen books for which Mr Trump has hired a ghostwriter.

Other critics compared the philosophies and the principles of the bible to Trump administration policies which they consider to be immoral.

“Donald J Trump is signing bibles,” Peter Daou, a former adviser to Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, tweeted. “The man whose vicious and inhumane border policy violates the fundamental teachings of Jesus is signing bibles.”

Despite courting the Christian vote – 81 per cent of white evangelicals voted for Mr Trump – the president is not a regular church-goer and his references to Christianity tend to centre on political issues and talking points.

Some argue any signature – a deed typically reserved for the author of the book in question – on or in a bible is morally reprehensible.

On the 2016 campaign trail, Mr Trump autographed a bible that was reported to go for £2,700 ($3,500) on eBay.

Some evangelical celebrities, such as the stars of US reality TV show Duck Dynasty, have also occasionally signed bibles.

Mr Trump has been applauded for his responses to storms in places like Texas and Florida but has faced widespread criticism for how he has dealt with two hurricanes in Puerto Rico. Critics have argued this trend is symptomatic of red state-blue state politics.

On his trip to Alabama, Mr Trump addressed dozens of residents and victims’ families at Providence Baptist church – recalling some of the damage he witnessed there.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mr Trump said, according to a pool report.

Mr Trump said officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are indeed doing an “A-plus job”

“We couldn’t get here fast enough. . . . We love the state of Alabama,” Mr Trump told the crowd.

The president signed an emergency disaster declaration earlier this week authorising federal aid for the area.