Trump brands protesters ‘thugs’ at New Hampshire rally

Lightning streaks across the sky as Donald Trump walks from Air Force One (AP)

US president Donald Trump has claimed he is the only thing standing between “democracy and the mob”, as he lashed out at protesters who accosted his supporters as they left the White House the night before.

Sowing fear about the implications of a Joe Biden victory in the forthcoming presidential election to battleground state voters, Mr Trump held a rally in New Hampshire on Friday.