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An inflatable Donald Trump balloon featuring him holding a KKK robe, called "Trumpzilla" from Revolution LA stands during the "Politicon" convention in Pasadena, California, U.S. June 25, 2016. Reuters

Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention painted a dark image of a country in turmoil. Many, including some GOP leaders, deemed it too dark and lacking an optimistic message.

But David Duke, the former grand wizard for the Ku Klux Klan, wrote on Twitter: "Great Trump Speech, America First! Stop Wars! Defeat the Corrupt elites! Protect our Borders!, Fair Trade! Couldn't have said it better!"

Duke is a long-time supporter of Trump's 2016 campaign. He has said Trump is "rehabilitating" Hitler’s image. He founded the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana in 1974 and later created the National Association for the Advancement of White People.

Earlier this year, Mr Trump came under fire for failing to reject an endorsement from Mr Duke, in which he implored listeners to vote for the tycoon and one-time reality show host.

In February, he told listeners of the David Duke Radio Program: “Voting against Donald Trump at this point, is really treason to your heritage.

During his convention speech, Trump promised to be a "law and order" leader who will put "America First."

"Beginning on Jan. 20th 2017, safety will be restored... I am going to make our country rich again," he said.

Trump has struggled to distance himself from Duke in the past. During the GOP primary, Trump told CNN: "I don’t know anything about David Duke. OK? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists, So, I don’t know."

After Republican and Democratic lawmakers condemned his remarks in February, Trump said over Twitter that he "disavowed" Duke.

Duke said his views has been distorted by the media. "I’m not a white supremacist. I have a long history of condemning white supremacism. I have long history of condemning any kind of violence – and I haven’t been even involved in any Klan organizations for almost 40 years. So, this whole discussion of the Klan and white supremacism is a bogus discussion. It’s a lie. It’s not appropriate – not for Donald Trump and not for me," he told International Business Times in March.