Meg Whitman criticises Trump and pledges Clinton support

Hewlett Packard executive Meg Whitman is the latest business leader to lay into Donald Trump's presidential campaign, referring to the New York tycoon as a "dishonest demagogue" and pledging support and funding for Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Whitman is a long-time Republican donor but says she and others like her have to put their country before their party in an effort to stop Trump from winning.

"Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character," Whitman said in a statement. "America needs the kind of stable and aspirational leadership Secretary Clinton can provide."

In a phone interview with the New York Times, the executive said she would use her considerable influence to attempt to convince others that Clinton is the right choice.

“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,” Ms. Whitman said in the interview.

“I don’t agree with her on very many issues,” she added, “but she would be a much better president than Donald Trump," she added.

In previous comments made to a Republican donor meeting earlier this year, Whitman compared Trump's rise to those of Hitler and Mussolini.

“Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well,” Ms. Whitman said, adding that he has already "undermined the character of the nation."

Meg Whitman has a turbulent history with US politics. She was one of the principal fundraisers for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in 2008, and she herself unsuccessfully ran for Governor of California in 2010, spending $140m of her own money in the process.

It's the latest coup for Hillary Clinton as she continues to reach across to the Republican side for donations and support, and with former eBay CEO Whitman on her side, she is guaranteed a certain amount of extra contributions, in addition to Whitman's personal donation, which is said to be in the "mid six figures".