U.S. White Supremacist David Duke Praises France's Le Pen

American white supremacist David Duke has praised France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, extolling her political prowess and controversial father.

"Her father is a great man, a true patriot. He raised a strong & intelligent woman who understands how to play 21st century politics," Duke said on Twitter on Wednesday, responding to a question about his views on Le Pen.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, 88, is the founder of France's far-right National Front party, a five-time presidential candidate who has had multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred and denying crimes against humanity.

Marine Le Pen took over leadership of the party in 2011 and has softened some of its views, increasing its appeal to a broader spectrum of voters.

Promising economic nationalism and a crackdown on crime and immigration, she is targeting the type of disgruntled, working-class white voters who propelled Donald Trump to the White House.

Polls currently show Le Pen winning the first round of the two-stage presidential vote in April with more than 25 percent.

White supremacists including Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard, enthusiastically supported Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential race.

Trump has disavowed the KKK and Duke but some have argued not strongly enough.