NICOLA Sturgeon had condemned Donald Trump’s sharing of anti-Muslim videos online as “completely unacceptable and really quite shocking”.

The US President retweeted unverified and debunked footage posted by far-right group Britain First earlier this week, provoking widespread outrage.

Now Ms Sturgeon has said the move underlines that it would not be appropriate for a state visit from Mr Trump to go ahead at this time.

The First Minister said: “For President Trump to have retweeted these videos was completely unacceptable and really quite shocking.

“Britain First is a fascist, hate-fuelled organisation - the man who killed Jo Cox shouted Britain First, and to have the President of the United States legitimising that organisation in the way that these retweets did is completely unacceptable.

“I would hope that the President will reflect on that - and in doing so understand why so many people are so deeply offended and concerned by this.

“I have said previously that it would not be appropriate for a state visit to go ahead at this time, and the events of the last couple of days underline and strengthen that view.

“America is one of Scotland and the UK’s closest friends and allies – we have many things in common and those links will endure.

“When President Trump was first elected I said that we could not afford to compromise our own principles in the interests of diplomatic silence, and this is one occasion where that is absolutely the case.”

President Trump retweeted to his 43.6 million followers three posts by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First.

They included videos claiming to show a "Muslim migrant" beating up a "Dutch boy on crutches", and a Muslim man destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Prime Minister Theresa May‘s spokesman earlier said it was “wrong” for the president to have shared the videos.