Creflo Dollar has denied endorsing Donald Trump after rumours circulated that the megachurch pastor had thrown his weight behind the Republican presidential candidate.

A spokesman for the controversial televangelist said he "never endorses candidates" and "never has".

A statement on Dollar's Facebook page also said that reports he had endorsed Trump were false.

It read: "At World Changers Church International, I nor the ministry endorse any political party or candidate; nor do we advise our members who to vote for.

"Any claims or statements claiming otherwise are false. This rumor originated on a satirical website and is 100% untrue."

The confusion started after a report by Word on the Street website was picked up by other sites. The article claimed Dollar had said the Lord told him to endorse Trump, and that God had apologised for the "mixed messages".

Word on the Street quoted Dollar as saying: "God came to me in a dream last night and said that Trump is his chosen candidate... God apologized for the mixed messages he was sending. I now know that Trump has been touched by the hand of God."

It also claimed Dollar had compared Trump to Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, saying he had been "sent to prepare the world for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ".

The article was picked up by other sites leading to the rumour being circulated. They came as Trump met with African-American and Latino activists on Thursday in his continued efforts to court the typically Democrat-leaning groups.