Neo-nazis have applauded Donald Trump’s response to the violent clashes between white supremacists and anti-fascists which swept Charlottesville and left three people dead.

The US President has refused to condemn the actions of the neo-Nazis, skinheads, and members of the Ku Klux Klan who descended on the Virginia city on Saturday yelling racial abuse, brandishing flaming torches, carrying assault rifles and wearing paramilitary clothing.

Speaking from a stage in a golf clubhouse, President Trump decried “violence on all sides” rather than explicitly taking aim at far-right extremists.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides,” he said. “On many sides.”

The billionaire property developer then left the conference, turning a deaf ear to reporters' shouted questions, including whether he wanted the support of white nationalists who have allied themselves with him or whether he deemed the violence to be terrorism.

White supremacists clash with anti-fascist campaigners ahead of Virginia rally

But while Mr Trump has sparked widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum for failing to denounce the largest gathering of white nationalists in America for decades, his response has been actively celebrated by neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

The founder of Daily Stormer, an American neo-Nazi and white supremacist site which considers itself to be part of the alt-right movement, hailed the fact President Trump “outright refused to disavow” the gathering of white supremacists.

“People saying he cucked are shills and kikes,” said its editor Andrew Anglin. “He did the opposite of cuck. He refused to even mention anything to do with us. When reporters were screaming at him about White Nationalism he just walked out of the room.”

Another Daily Stormer commenter said: ”Trump comments were good. He didn't attack us. He just said the nation should come together. Nothing specific against us. He said that we need to study why people are so angry, and implied that there was hate... on both sides! So he implied the Antifa are haters.”

Antifa, shorthand for antifascist organisations, refers to a loose coalition of decentralised, grassroots groups opposed to the many guises of fascism which began in Europe in the 1920s.

“There was virtually no counter-signaling of us at all,” the Trump supporter continued. “He said he loves us all. Also refused to answer a question about white nationalists supporting him. No condemnation at all. When asked to condemn, he just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him.”

Richard Spencer, a leading white supremacist who rose to fame for being punched at an anti-Trump protest, was similarly supportive of President Trump’s response to the violence which erupted between those opposed to the removal of a statue from a local park of Civil War Confederate General Robert E Lee and counter-protesters.

After Mr Trump tweeted earlier on Saturday “We ALL must be united and condemn all that hate stands for,” Spencer, who is credited with coining the term “alt-right”, replied: “Did Trump just denounce Antifa?”

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to assume all white supremacists have celebrated President Trump’s reaction to the violence. David Duke, the former head of the Ku Klux Klan who found himself at the centre of controversy after Mr Trump failed to immediately condemn his endorsement during the 2016 presidential campaign, was less effusive.

Mr Duke, who was in Charlottesville, said: “I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror and remember it was White Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftists”.

He had been responding to President Trump saying: “We ALL must be united and condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Let's come together as one!”

Chaos broke out on the streets of Charlottesville as tensions spilled into street clashes with rocks and pepper spray. A 32-year-old women was killed after a car was driven at speed into a group of anti-fascist protesters and two policemen died in a helicopter crash while taking part in efforts to restore peace to the area.

A state of emergency was announced by the local and state governments with police declaring the “Unite the Right” rally an unlawful assembly and demanding the crowds to disperse.

Fellow Republicans have slammed President Trump, who spent his presidential bid repeatedly attacking Obama and Clinton for failing to label terrorist attacks as such, for his response to the furore.

“Mr President - we must call evil by its name,” said Republican Senator Cory Gardner, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The alt-right - a political movement which has been accused of racism, antisemitism and misogyny and of sharing an ideology with far-right parties such as the French National Front - gained increasing prominence during Mr Trump’s presidential bid and has continued to do so since his arrival in the White House.

During the campaign, Hillary Clinton accused President Trump of making the alt-right “mainstream“ and attacked the movement as ”racist ideas ... anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-women ideas”.

White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, is the former executive chair of far-right online publication Breitbart News which he described as “the platform for the alt-right” last year.

While President Trump has attempted to distance himself from the so-called “alt-right” movement, its members have put their weight behind the former reality TV star and heralded him as their leader.