Jimmy Kimmel says he would rather Cersei Lannister than Donald Trump

Jimmy Kimmel has taken aim at President Donald Trump's delayed condemnation of the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia at the weekend, calling the President "completely unhinged".

In the opening monologue of his late night talk show in the US on Monday, Kimmel took the opportunity to sledge President Trump and the press conference he gave that saw him struggle to unequivocally condemn white nationalists.

"And then he opened his mouth and all matter of stupid came out. I wouldn't be lying if I said I would feel more comfortable if Cersei Lannister was running this country," Kimmel said. "I don't know who decided it would be a good idea to send him out there to talk to reporters today, but whoever did obviously misread his state of mind and the mood in this country right now.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO

"I think I can say this with reasonable certainty, the President is completely unhinged. The wheels are off the wagon and hurtling through space."

Initially, Trump branded members of the KKK, Neo-Nazis and white supremacists who took part in the violence as "criminals and thugs" in a press conference at the White House. Trump's advisers had hoped those remarks might quell a crush of criticism from Republicans, Democrats and business leaders.

But in a second conference on Tuesday he declared "there is blame on both sides" for the deadly violence, appearing to once again equate the actions of white supremacist groups and those protesting them. By doing so, many said he showed sympathy for the fringe groups' efforts to preserve Confederate monuments.

- With AP