Donald Trump has denied he is racist amid widespread condemnation over a series of tweets in which he told four US congresswomen to "go back" to the "broken and crime infested places from which they came".
The US President, who has refused to back down over the issue, launched another staunch defence of the tweets, which have prompted accusations of racism.
He tweeted: "Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body!"
Mr Trump continued: "The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show 'weakness' and fall into their trap. This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat Congresswomen, who I truly believe, based on their actions, hate our Country."
House Democrats in the US are planning for a vote this week on a resolution that “strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s racist comments”.
The measure states Mr Trump’s tweets Sunday “have legitimised and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of colour".
President Trump had previously knocked down criticism he faced and said: "It doesn't concern me because many people agree with me.
"A lot of people love it, by the way."
He also added: "If you're not happy in the U.S., if you're complaining all the time, you can leave, you can leave right now."
In his initial remarks, Mr Trump did not mention the four congresswomen by now but the comments are widely accepted to be directed at Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
All of that group are American citizens and three were born in the US. Ms Omar was born in Somalia.
At a news conference with her three colleagues, Ms Pressley referred to Trump as "the occupant of our White House" instead of president.
She said: "He does not embody the grace, the empathy, the compassion, the integrity that that office requires and that the American people deserve."
She encouraged people "not take the bait", calling his comments "a disruptive distraction from the issues of care, concern and consequence to the American people - prescription drug prices, affordable housing, health care."
Republican Senator Mitt Romney called Mr Trump's remarks "destructive, demeaning, and disunifying."
In the UK, Downing Street made clear the Prime Minister's view of Mr Trump's comments.
"Her view is that the language which was used to refer to the women was completely unacceptable," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
The spokesman said he was not aware of any plans for Mrs May to speak to the president.
Tory leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt also condemned the comments. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the president's comments were "not OK and diplomatic politeness should not stop us saying so, loudly and clearly".
