Donald Trump weighs in on Cincinnati Zoo gorilla killing and concludes they 'probably they didn’t have a choice'

The Republican described the animal as like a ‘mother holding a baby’

The dreamy, transfixed look in the Republican's eyes was hard not to notice (AP)

A misty-eyed expression came across the Republican’s face as he was asked by reporters what he thought of the gorilla that was shot at Cincinnati Zoo.

“I think it’s a very tough call,” said Mr Trump at the podium of his Fifth Avenue marble tower. He seemed glad to take a break from shouting abuse at the "liberal media" to answer one reporter's question with great sincerity.

“It was amazing, because there were moments with the gorilla, the way he held that child, it was almost like a mother holding a baby - it looked so beautiful and calm," he said.

Mr Trump gripped his podium slightly harder.

“And there were moments where it looked pretty dangerous,” he added, a dark shadow forming over his face as if he was referring to ISIS or the Mexican border.

The presidential candidate has never been one to shy away from the most pressing topics of the day at press conferences.

It took just 26 minutes of discussing veterans' charities and the “shameful and dishonest” liberal media before the conversation verged to somewhat hairier topics.

A viral video released this week showed a child falling into a gorilla enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo and has taken the social media world by storm.

The gorilla was shot by zoo staff and the incident sparked a massive backlash agains the zoo, as well as the mother, who was accused of not keeping a watch on her child.

A vigil has been held, and criminal charges have been instigated.

“I don’t think they had a choice, I mean probably they didn’t have a choice,” Mr Trump reasoned on the shooting, giving more airtime to this one animal than to any human being shot by the police.

“They had a child, a grandchild who is inside and it’s too bad there wasn’t another way,” he continued.

Reporters listened, some more baffled than others. None interrupted, or asked whether he had donated to any gorilla charities, or if he had attended the vigil with Trump-branded candles.

Or whether he had watched the video more than once, which well could have been the case.

“I thought it was so beautiful to watch how that powerful, almost 500-pound gorilla dealt with that boy,” he continued. "It just takes one second, just one second, just one little flick of his finger and I will tell you they probably had no choice."

Mr Trump, after answering more questions on veterans, Hillary Clinton, and Mitt Romney, retired to his golden elevator to swoop back up to the heights of his tower and continue making his signs for the Gorilla Lives Matter movement.

The Republican has shown more sympathy to animals in recent weeks, including his scathing putdown of wind turbines and renewable energy as they “are killing all the eagles” in California.