Republican Donald Trump has insisted that his White House campaign is unified, even as he faced a backlash from some in his party over his criticism of the family of a dead American soldier.
"There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" the Republican nominee wrote on Twitter, referring to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2016
The message contrasts with the criticism that has erupted in the Republican Party after the New York real estate magnate engaged for days in a public dispute with the parents of a Muslim US soldier who died in Iraq.
The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Mr Trump and voice support for the Khan family.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a longtime Trump ally, has said it was inappropriate to criticise the Khan family.
Representative Richard Hanna of New York yesterday became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Mrs Clinton, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support their party's nominee.
The Republican nominee hit back yesterday at critics in the Republican leadership and denied both House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain support in their re-election bids, in an interview with The Washington Post.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was "quite furious" with Mr Trump's handling of the Khan situation and his failure to endorse Mr Ryan, a Republican source said.
However, Trump loyalist Corey Lewandowski dismissed reports yesterday evening of dissent and disarray in Mr Trump's camp.
"These people would climb over barbed wire for Donald Trump, chew on glass to make sure that they get him elected," Mr Lewandowski, who was fired from the campaign in June, said on CNN.
Mr Trump swept aside 16 rivals to win the party primary contests, winning support particularly from workers who feel neglected by the political establishment.
His plans have included a ban on Muslims and building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants.
He has also proposed renegotiating trade treaties, opening up to Russia, revamping NATO and has suggested Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons.
US President Barack Obama yesterday unleashed his strongest attack yet on Mr Trump, calling him unfit for the presidency.
Mr Obama asked Republican leaders why they continued to endorse Mr Trump given their repeated criticisms of his actions.
Meanwhile, a prominent Republican activist and fundraiser has said she will back Mrs Clinton for president and give money to her campaign to stop her party's nominee.
"I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her," Meg Whitman told The New York Times.
Ms Whitman is CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be chief executive of eBay.
She told the Times that Mr Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and that electing him to the White House would lead the United States "on a very dangerous journey".
