Donald Trump sparked fury as he blamed the latest mass shootings to shake the US on everything from video games and the internet to mental health and immigration.

Angry critics said the controversial leader should look closer to home after hateful, divisive comments on minorities and immigrants “defined his presidency” – with one saying his “open racism is an invitation to violence” and another comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump made his bizarre address in the wake of the weekend’s shootings in Dayton, Ohio, by Connor Betts and El Paso, Texas, by Patrick Crusius which killed a total of 31.

The President called Crusius – who was taken alive after his rampage and said he acted over a Hispanic “invasion” – a “wicked man”.

He said: “The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by racist hate. In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy.”

But political scientist Brian Klass said: “Sure, it’s good to finally use the words.

“But let’s be clear: no figure in modern American history has done more to encourage and embolden these hateful ideologies than Donald Trump. It defined his campaign. 

“It has defined his presidency. A reluctant sentence changes none of that.”

Mr Trump has frequently derided asylum seekers and immigrants as liars and criminals.

At a rally in May, he asked the crowd what could be done about illegal immigrants – smiling and joking after someone yelled: “Shoot them!”

Political opponents accused the President of using the same language as Crusius and his former communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, said he risks losing key supporters.

He said: “This sort of rhetoric, this sort of disunity stuff, is at risk of overpowering the policy.”

During his nine-minute speech – in which he wrongly referred to victims in Toledo, 150 miles from Dayton in Ohio – Mr Trump said: “We must recognise the internet has provided a dangerous avenue to radicalise disturbed minds and perform demented acts.”

He added that we must “stop the glorification of violence”, referencing “gruesome video games” and adding: “Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun.”

And after a random swipe at China over trade, he spoke of linking background checks to immigration – despite both shooters being white Americans.

Crusius, 21, posted a 2,300-word manifesto raging about the “Hispanic invasion of Texas” minutes before he opened fire on Saturday at a WalMart store.

The FBI is treating the shooting as domestic terrorism.

Mr Trump said: “Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform.”

But author Keith Boykin shot back: “Trump is blaming the internet, social media, video games and mental health for the mass shootings. Nonsense.

“Every country has Google , Facebook , video games and people with mental health issues. What they don’t have is easy access to guns and a racist, xenophobic president.”

Democrats have already dismissed his idea and congressman Jerry Nadler said: “What’s the connection between background checks for guns and immigration reform?

“That we have to keep guns out of the hands out of the invading hordes? Of less than human people coming across our borders. That’s the implication. That’s disgusting. It reminds me of 1930s Germany.”

And Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, speaking from his hometown of El Paso, said: “This president’s open racism is an invitation to violence.”

On Sunday, several Democrats running for the White House had blamed Mr Trump’s rhetoric for stoking racial tensions.

Joe Biden said: “When you give a safe harbour to hate from the Oval Office, it gives licence to extremism.” Cory Booker added: “You reap what you sow and Donald Trump has been sowing this kind of hatred.”

Mr Trump also said during his White House statement he was “directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty”.

A prosecutor in Texas – where the El Paso toll rose to 22 yesterday after two deaths in hospital – said the state will seek the death penalty against Crusius if he is found guilty on charges of capital murder.

Police said he shot shoppers with a rifle before surrendering to officers outside the store.

The FBI said his attack “underscores the continued threat posed by domestic violent extremists and perpetrators of hate crimes”.

Crusius’s twisted manifesto was posted on 8chan, a notorious right-wing message board, and expressed support for gunman Brenton Tarrant, 28, who killed 51 at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March.

FBI director Christopher Wray told a congressional panel last month the bureau arrested 100 domestic terrorism suspects in nine months and most investigations of that kind involved some form of white supremacy.

In Dayton, 24-year-old Betts went on the rampage wearing full body armour and a mask.

He killed nine people – including his sister – and wounded 27 others before police shot him dead.

Worst three US massacres this year

22 dead – suspect arrested

El Paso, Texas, August 3

13 dead – including gunman

Virginia Beach, Virginia, May 31

10 dead – including gunman

Dayton, Ohio, August 4

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