Ridley Scott has branded Trump a “nutcase” for the way he is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

As America overtakes China as the country most affected by the global pandemic, the film director was asked about his views on how world leaders are handling the situation.

“Particularly with this orange-headed fellow that’s running us, he’s a nutcase, isn’t he?” Scott told Variety.

“Looking at the globalisation of the politicians that are running the world, half the time being run by idiots and the other time by despots, there are very few worthwhile ones, if you know what I mean,” he continued. ”No one wants to go into politics. If anyone has half a brain they wouldn’t want to go into politics anyway, right?”

Since the outbreak, the US president has made numerous inaccurate remarks about the illness during press briefings.

In January, Trump said of the sickness: “It’s going to disappear – one day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”

Despite the rising death toll, he went on to rate his response to the outbreak as “a 10”, adding: “I think we’ve done a great job.”

Scott, who referred to himself as “a war baby”, also urged Boris Johnson “to limit what you can buy each time” British people go to the shops.

“People are buying so much food and then the food is rotting,” he added.

“I mean, Jesus, Boris, get out your thinking cap, ’cause what we’re now talking on is an iPhone, a perfect coupon distributor to limit what you can buy. And that way, you have order. You must have order and calm.”