Trump presidency risk 'as damaging as jihadi terrorism'

Donald Trump

A Donald Trump presidency could be as damaging to the global economy as jihadi terrorism, a risk analysis group has warned.

In the White House he could initiate trade wars with China and Mexico and potentially drag down global growth by up to 1.5 per cent.

The warning was issued by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, which put a Trump presidency in sixth place among the top 10 risks facing the world. His presidency was rated as riskier than Britain leaving the European Union or a military conflict in the South China Sea.

The report singled out Trump's "exceptional hostility" to free trade and his "exceptionally right-wing stance on the Middle East" including his comments on killing terrorists' families and going into Syria to "take the oil".

Trump's "militaristic tendencies" would be a recruitment tool for jihadi groups and increase the risk of terrorism around the world, the group said.

The report came as Russia condemned a controversial campaign ad released in the US by Trump.

It showed President Vladimir Putin and the terrorist Jihadi John, with a voice-over saying: "When it comes to facing our toughest opponents the Democrats have the perfect answer."It then cut to footage of Hillary Clinton barking like a dog during a campaign speech.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We regard it negatively. The demonisation of Russia and everything connected to Russia is, unfortunately, an obligatory part of an American election campaign".

In an editorial this week China's state-owned Global Times newspaper described Trump as "big-mouthed". It said: "Mussolini and Hitler came to power through elections, a heavy lesson for Western democracy".

Last week a top Dubai security official warned of a "clash of civilisations" if Trump won.