US President Donald Trump has defiantly reiterated his opposition to the removal of monuments to the pro-slavery Civil War Confederacy, saying he was saddened to see the "beautiful" statues being removed from cities around the country.

Key points: Donald Trump says Confederate monuments are a part of US culture

Donald Trump says Confederate monuments are a part of US culture Comes as a number of states make efforts to remove Confederate statues

Comes as a number of states make efforts to remove Confederate statues President earlier lashed out at Republican critics who took aim at his earlier comments on Charlottesville

Mr Trump has been engulfed in controversy, strongly rebuked by members of his own Republican Party and snubbed by a string of American business leaders, over his reaction to the unrest in Charlottesville on Saturday.

In a series of Twitter posts, Mr Trump showed no sign of backing down.

He criticised efforts in a growing number of US states, including Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, to remove statues honouring Confederate leaders.

"Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments," he wrote.

"You can't change history, but you can learn from it."

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The clashes flared in Charlottesville when a white supremacist rally called to protest against the planned removal from a park of a statue of Confederate army commander General Robert E Lee was met with anti-racism counter-protesters.

A woman was killed when a suspected white nationalist crashed his car into the counter-protesters.

Confederate symbols and monuments are viewed by many Americans as symbols of hate.

Mr Trump had also expressed distaste for removing statues of Confederate commanders in a heated news conference on Tuesday during which he blamed the violence in Charlottesville on not just the white nationalist rally organisers but the counter-protesters, and said there were "very fine people" on both sides.

His comments ignited a storm of criticism.

Mr Trump earlier lashed out at Republican US senators Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake, two leading critics, as well as the media, and said he had not drawn any moral comparisons between white supremacists and those who opposed them.

Mr Graham said on Wednesday Mr Trump's words suggested "moral equivalency" between the two sides and called on the President to use his words to heal Americans.

"Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists and people like Ms Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can't forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!" Mr Trump wrote.

Mr Trump was referring to 32-year-old Heather Heyer, the woman killed in Charlottesville.

Reuters