Trump unleashes fury at impeachment enemies

US President Donald Trump has unleashed his fury against those who tried to impeach him, a day after his acquittal by the Senate.

"As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people," Mr Trump said at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

He spoke from a stage where he was joined by congressional leaders, including Democratic House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led the impeachment charge against him.

"They have done everything possible to destroy us and by so doing very badly hurt our nation," said Mr Trump, who triumphantly held up copies of two newspapers with 'Acquitted' headlines as he took the stage.

It was a whiplash message in contrast to the speakers who came before him, including keynote speaker and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, who had described a "crisis of contempt and polarisation" in the nation and urged those gathered to "love your enemies".

"I don't know if I agree with you," Mr Trump said, and then he proceeded to demonstrate it.

"I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong," he said in an apparent reference to Senator Mitt Romney, a longtime Trump critic who cited his faith in becoming the only Republican to vote for Mr Trump's removal.

"Nor do I like people who say 'I pray for you' when you know that is not so," he said in a reference to Ms Pelosi, who has offered that message for the president when the two leaders have sparred publicly.

The House Speaker shook her head at various points during Mr Trump's remarks, but did not appear to interact with the president personally.

Earlier, she had offered a prayer for the poor and the persecuted.

Ms Pelosi said later that Mr Trump's remarks were "so completely inappropriate, especially at a prayer breakfast.."

She took particular issue with his swipe at Mr Romney's faith and said that yes, she does pray for the president.

His comments, including his usual campaign litany of economic boasting, was a clear sign that the post-impeachment Mr Trump is emboldened like never before as he barrels ahead in his re-election fight with a united Republican Party behind him.