Donald Trump Jr says his father can't be racist because 'of all the rappers' he has hung out with

'I know him. I've seen him my whole life. It's amazing, all the rappers ... all his African-American friends from Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton,' says US president's eldest son

The US president’s eldest son insists his father is not racist (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Donald Trump Jr has insisted his father is not racist because he used to spend time with rappers.

The US President's eldest child claimed criticisms of his father went so far as to undermine people who are “actually” affected by “real” discrimination.

He told conservative news website, The Daily Caller, that "you can't win" if your response to an argument was to say something is racist or sexist.

"You actually do a real disservice to those people actually afflicted by it,” he said. “You can only overplay your hand so many times before people start calling your bluff.”

Defending his father's record on racism, he added: “I know him. I've seen him my whole life. It's amazing, all the rappers ... all his African-American friends from Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton … I have pictures [of my dad] with them.”

Over the years Mr Trump has been pictured with rappers like Ja Rule, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon.

After it was reported that the US President had described certain African nations, along with Haiti and El Salvador as “shithole” countries, the United Nations said it was impossible to describe his remarks as anything other than racist.

The 55-nation African Union also said the remarks were “clearly racist”, while the Vatican decried Trump’s words as “particularly harsh and offensive”.

Mr Trump was also criticised after he referred to some Mexican immigrants as "rapists."

Defending his father, Mr Trump Jr, whose friends reportedly call him the “Fifth Avenue Redneck” because of his penchant for hunting, said people had only started lashing out at his father since he had become involved in politics.

It was only then that "all of a sudden [people said], 'Oh, he's the most terrible human being in the world,'" the 45-year-old claimed.