President Donald Trump’s chief anti-terrorism adviser, Sebastian Gorka, appears to have been filmed voicing support for a violent, antisemitic paramilitary group in Hungary.

In 2007 clip from Hungarian TV obtained by the New York-based Forward newspaper, the London-born Gorka, who emigrated to the US from Hungary in 2012, he is asked if he and his party supported the establishment of a fascist militia, the Magyar Garda. Gorka replied, “That is so”.

In the video, Gorka was careful to stress that his party "isn't anything to do with the initiative".

However, he says there was "a tangible need for organised self defence"  in Hungary and archived statements on Gorka's party website back the formation of the Garda.

The paramilitary group was subsequently condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for attempting to promote an “essentially racist” legal order.

In the footage, Gorka was being interviewed as leader of his own newly-formed Hungarian political party. He was asked if he supported Jobbik’s move to set up the Magyar Garda, and appeared to reply - according to the translation provided - “That is so,” adding that it was “a response to a big societal need”.

The footage has led to a call from the NGO, Human Rights First, for Mr Trump to fire Gorka. Its spokesman, Rob Berschinski, said that the White House was “harbouring a man who has made a career out of associating with racists and antisemites”.

Last month, leaders of the antisemitic group “Historical Vitézi Rend” claimed that Gorka was an official member of their organisation. 

But Gorka and some of his political supporters have argued that he has fought antisemitism throughout his career. He has not so far responded to the new charges made against him.