Trump posts photo with Nazi re-enactors

American billionaire Donald Trump, who is running in the 2016 US presidential election, tweeted an image of himself superimposed on the US national flag with re-enactors posing as Nazi soldiers.

"We need real leadership, we need real results. Let's put the US back into business!" said the text accompanying the image.

The image purportedly featured Nazi re-enactors dressed in uniforms of the Waffen-SS, a Nazi special paramilitary unit known for committing the most atrocious crimes during World War II.

Executive vice president of the Trump Foundation Michael Cohen, who described himself as Trump's "special counsel," blamed the incident on an intern, CNN reporter MJ Lee reported.

The image of the Nazi re-enactors was apparently taken from iStock, a website run by Getty Images. Licensing for the image titled "Marching Soldiers" sells for three credits on the site, equivalent to $26.31 (24 euros).

The image, which does not have a detailed description at iStock, sparked widespread anger from social media platforms, who lashed out at the controversial US figure.

A Twitter user going by the name John Schindler was the first to notice the blunder.

"Donald Trump just put Waffen-SS troops in a campaign pic. Seriously, I swear," Schindler said.

"Troops at bottom are Waffen-SS, wearing late-WW2 dot pattern camo, SS eagle is visible on the left arms," Schindler said in another tweet.

The image was consequently deleted after Trump's social media team was made aware of the incident.

'Derogatory comments'

This was not the first time Trump has come under public scrutiny.

In June, Trump was criticized for derogatory comments made during the announcement of his presidential campaign when he referred to Mexican immigrants as "rapists" who are "bringing crime" to the United States.

American broadcaster NBC sacked the billionaire, canceling his contract as a TV personality on the show "The Apprentice." NBC also pulled the plug on broadcasting the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which are co-owned by Trump.

Leading Republican nominee

Trump's tweet comes amid a poll published on Wednesday by American newspaper "USA Today" showing the billionaire as the "first choice" for the Republican nomination among 17 percent of respondents.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of former US President George W. Bush and son of earlier US President George H.W. Bush, placed second in the poll, garnering support from 14 percent of respondents.

Other Republican presidential contenders, including Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, US Senator Ted Cruz, and neurosurgeon Ben Carson, trailed behind in the single digits.

Bipartisan criticism

Bush criticized Trump while campaigning in the strategic state of Iowa.

"Whether it's Donald Trump or Barack Obama, their rhetoric of divisiveness is wrong," Bush said at a meet-and-greet in Council Bluffs, reported "The Des Moines Register."

"A Republican will never win by striking fear in people's hearts. A Republican can win and will win if we have an aspirational message that gives people hope that their lives will be better if we apply conservative principles the right way."

US Senator Bernie Sanders also lashed out at the billionaire while referring to Trump's comments on race.

"Racism has plagued the United States since its inception," Sanders said in a press release from his campaign office.

"We are making progress in this country and there will be no turning back," he added. "And let me be very clear in saying that no one, not Donald Trump, not anyone else will be successful in dividing us based on race or on our country of origin."