Trump defends 'animal' remark, says will use it against gangs like MS-13

US President Donald Trump on Friday defended his use of the word "animals" against some illegal immigrants, asserting that he would continue to use the term to refer to violent gang members.

Trump said he used the word yesterday against the MS-13 gang members and asserted that he would not shy away from using the term time and again.

"When the MS-13 comes in, when the other gang members come into our country, I refer to them as "animals." And guess what? I always will," Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House.

"We are getting them out by the thousands. But it's a big, dangerous job. And they're able, in some cases, to come back in or new groups come in also from the gangs," he said.

Trump made the controversial remark during a roundtable with law enforcement officials from California.