Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has welcomed the endorsement of a controversial Christian evangelist who argues that God sent Hitler to kill Jews because of their refusal to accept Jesus as the messiah.

Mike Bickle, the founder and director of the International House of Prayer - a Christian missionary organisation based in Missouri - previously hit the headlines for using the Bible to explain the attempted extermination of Jews.

In a 2011 sermon, he said: "The Lord says… 'If they don't respond to grace, I'm going to raise up the hunters.' And the most famous hunter in recent history is a man named Adolf Hitler."

In 2005, Mr Bickle predicted Jews would be sent to extermination camps again before the return of Jesus.

In his endorsement for Senator Cruz, the preacher said: "Our nation is in a great crisis in this hour. We need a president who will first be faithful to honour God's word… We have been praying for righteous leaders, and Ted Cruz is such a leader."

The presidential hopeful said he was "grateful" to have Mr Bickle's "prayers and support".

The National Jewish Democratic Council called Mr Cruz's response "profoundly troubling".