Trump launches tirade over 'perfect' Charlottesville response

President Donald Trump has said his much-criticised response to riots in Charlottesville was "perfect" - and claimed North Korea was starting to respect America.

He made the comments during a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, a day after his primetime speech outlining his strategy for Afghanistan.

The rally drew many protesters who were angry for his failing to denounce white supremacists who had clashed with anti-fascist protesters earlier this month.

The Charlottesville protests resulted in the death of a woman and injury to dozens of other people.

During his speech, Trump said his response to the Charlottesville situation had been "perfect".

Instead he blamed the "very dishonest media" for misrepresenting his response to the riots, saying he had "openly called for healing unity and love".

He also spoke about North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, following their war of words on the threat of nuclear war, saying: "I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us.

"Maybe something positive can come about."

Trump also vowed to "close down government if that is what it takes" to build his wall along the Mexico border.

He told cheering supporters at the ‘Make America Great Again’ rally that the opposition Democrats were being "obstructionist".

With thousands of supporters cheering him on, the US president also weighed in on another racially charged issue, hinting he would soon pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Arpaio, 85, who battled illegal immigration in the Phoenix area, was found guilty last month of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.