THE First Minister has warned that “diplomatic politeness” must not stop politicians calling out the US president, as Donald Trump faced backlash over a racist tweet tirade.

On Sunday, Trump used Twitter to tell four progressive congresswomen of colour to “go back” to their own countries – despite three of them being born in America – and continued his attacks yesterday.

Nicola Sturgeon’s comments came hours before both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt refused to label Trump’s remarks “racist” in a Tory leadership debate.

Although not naming anyone, Trump’s tweet chain made clear reference to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.

He wrote: “So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run.

“Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough.

“I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!”

He later tweeted out quotes from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham which called Ocasio-Cortez and the others “Communists” who “hate Israel” and “our own Country”.

Nicola Sturgeon hit back, saying Trump’s statements were unacceptable.

The First Minister said: “The President of the United States telling elected politicians – or any other Americans for that matter – to ‘go back’ to other countries is not OK, and diplomatic politeness should not stop us saying so, loudly and clearly.”

Her comments came after Johnson’s refusal to back UK ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch – whose communications describing Trump’s administration as inept were leaked – led to the diplomat’s resignation last week.

Asked what he thought of Trump’s tweets during the final expected debate between the Tory candidates, Johnson said: “I think that relations between the UK and the US are incredibly important. If you’re the leader of a great multiracial multicultural society you simply cannot use that kind of language about sending people back to where they came from.”

However, he refused to be drawn on whether he felt the remarks were racist, saying only that “you can take from what I’ve said what I think about President Trump’s words”.

Asked the same question, Hunt said: I’m Foreign Secretary. This is the president of the country which happens to be our closest ally. It is not going to help the situation to use that kind of language about the president of the United States.

“I can understand why people would want politicians like me to use those words, but I hope I have made clear how totally offensive it is to me that people are still saying that kind of thing.”

Prime Minister Theresa May also condemned the remarks by Trump.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s view is that the language used to refer to these women was completely unacceptable.

The SNP slammed Johnson for “writing Trump a blank cheque” just hours after the President’s rant.

Johnson said yesterday that agreeing a trade deal with Trump would be his “top priority”.

SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth said: “Just hours after Donald Trump’s staggering racist remarks about opposition politicians, and while the world is shocked at the US government keeping migrant children in cages, Boris Johnson wants to write him a blank cheque.

“A Trump-Johnson race-to-the-bottom partnership would be an utter catastrophe for Scotland – and it would put Scottish jobs and our NHS at risk.”