DONALD Trump was heckled by rowdy protesters today as he saluted America's heroes at a Veterans Day parade in New York City.

Several dozen dissenters holding banners reading 'traitor', 'criminal' and 'lock him up'  mobbed the sombre event in downtown Manhattan.

Ignoring the boos, the US president kicked off the tribute by saying the US's veterans "risked everything for us. Now it is our duty to serve and protect them every single day of our lives."

“Today, we come together as one nation to salute the veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the greatest warriors to ever walk the face of the Earth,” he added.

Some of his loyal supporters gathered nearby, many of wearing hats bearing Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan 'Make America Great Again.'

But chanting and jeers could still be heard throughout the president’s 18-minute speech.

A chorus of protesters shouted “lock him up” and “traitor” and blew whistles as he spoke causing veterans to complain the din was drowning out the president’s speech.

To his left, luxury high-rise condominiums towered over the park with signs on windows spelling out 'IMPEACH' and 'CONVICT' in massive letters.

Trump spoke at the opening of the 100th annual parade organised by the United War Veterans Council in Madison Square Park.

He is the first sitting president to accept the group's invitation to speak at the event.

Trump told the crowd that the nation's veterans often came face to face with evil and did not back down.

"You returned from war and you never forgot your friends who didn't return," he said.

"But your greatest tribute of all is the way you lived your lives in the years since."

Trump also used the event to tout the strength of the US military and the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, saying "al-Baghdadi is dead.

"His second in charge is dead. We have our eyes on number three."

Trump has been a longtime supporter of the parade – which is attended by a mix of veterans and their families.

It's reported during the 1990s he pledged $200,000 and offered to raise money from friends in exchange for being named the parade's grand marshal.

Trump is a lifelong New Yorker but recently changed his official residence to Florida , complaining about his treatment by the heavily Democratic city's elected officials.

He has recently been met with a boos and cheers at several recent events, including at Game 5 of the World Series and a UFC fight in New York earlier this month.

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