Donald Trump’s Jewish lawyer, Michael Cohen, has said rabbis who plan on boycotting the Republican candidate should be “ashamed”.

Mr Trump will give a speech to around 18,000 attendees at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual conference in Washington DC on Sunday.

But around 40 mostly progressive rabbis have pledged to boycott the billionaire businessman’s address at the event.

The Trump Organisation’s executive vice president Mr Cohen said on Thursday on Twitter: “Anyone who believes that @realDonaldTrump is a racist doesn’t know #Trump at all.”

“Shame on the protesting rabbis with #AIPAC.”

The rabbis have said they do not fault Aipac for inviting Mr Trump. The pro-Israel lobby has invited all the major candidates to speak. All but Bernie Sanders have accepted.

The protesters object to Mr Trump’s views against minorities, including Mexicans and Muslims, and say he must assume responsibility for violence at several of his rallies.