Putin's favourite presidential candidate appeals to the same demographic. In the words of another Trump admirer John Pilger, Trump "is speaking straight to ordinary Americans, not through the usual media/liberal filter. He is making sense to a lot of people. They like his absence of hypocrisy."

'The Ku Klux Klan just turned up to support Donald Trump in Nevada'

‪#‎USA, 26-02-2016: 'Donald Trump has attracted a following from white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan, who appeared in long cloaks and head-coverings at the Nevada caucus.

One map that shows how hate groups in the US are on the rise

Mr Trump is already facing resurfaced allegations of sexual assault ahead of Super Tuesday on 1 March, he has been considering suing rival Ted Cruz for “lying” to Iowa voters in a mailer, and has fanned flames of racism with his talk of banning Muslims from the US and building a wall along the US border to keep out Mexicans.

Mr Trump has “refused” to condemn those who believe Christian white people are a superior race, and has “encouraged” the hatred, according to Occupy Democrats.

"This, America, is what the Republican Party has come to. It is absolutely appalling to see that the front-runner of one of our nation’s two major political parties has been spouting such absurdly discriminatory rhetoric that his supporters feel bold enough to show up to caucus dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan," wrote Colin Taylor.