Former KKK leader David Duke: 'We won it for Donald Trump'

Ex 'grand wizard' of infamous racist group posts a series of bizarre images of Mr Trump, including one of him holding a rifle standing on a tank, surrounded by fireworks, an eagle and the US flag

(Getty)

A former Ku Klux Klan leader – or 'grand wizard' – has suggested fascists had helped Donald Trump win the US presidential election.

David Duke, who once led the neo-Nazi, white-supermacist organisation, tweeted the claim on election night.

“This is one of the most exciting nights of my life,” Mr Duke wrote.

“Make no mistake about it, our people have played a huge role in electing Trump!”

The Republican became the 45th president-elect early on Wednesday morning, in a victory which defied the polls and shocked pundits.

Mr Duke, a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, was also running for Senate this year, but lost his race in the state.

During the election campaign, Mr Trump only hesitantly denounced Mr Duke and the KKK, but that did not deter the far-right politician.

Mr Duke reiterated his support following the election result, even appearing to class his politics and Mr Trump's politics as one and the same.

“We have the moral high ground, 100%,” he said on Twitter.

He also posted a series of bizarre photoshopped images of Mr Trump, including one of him holding a rifle while standing on a tank bearing his name, surrounded by fireworks, an eagle and the US flag.

He wrote: “Donald J Trump now has the chance to become one of the greatest Americans to have ever lived.”

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right National Front, also took to Twitter to praise Mr Trump.

“Congratulations to the new president of the United States Donald Trump and to the free American people” she said on Wednesday.