Former US president, Donald Trump has spoken of the importance of Jesus Christ to the American people, as part of a Christmas message to Christians in Dallas.

The 45th President addressed the 4,000 strong crowd at First Baptist Church, Dallas on 19th December. 

Speaking as part of the church's Christmas worship service, Trump said:

"More than 2,000 years ago, an angel of the Lord appeared to humble shepherds and proclaimed the reason for our Christmas joy. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

"Our country needs a Savior right now. And our country has a Savior - and it's not me," he continued.

"That's somebody else much higher up than me. Much higher."

In the ten-minute 'Christmas greeting' Trump also aired his political concerns on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, immigration and inflation as he warned that the United States was "in great trouble" under it's current "dark cloud" of leadership.

Trump went on credit key moments in history to the Church and Jesus' example:

"The life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ forever changed the world," he declared. 

"And it's impossible to think of the life of our own country without the influence of His example and of His teachings. 

"Our miraculous founding, overcoming civil war, abolishing slavery, defeating communism and fascism, reaching boundless heights of science and discovery, so many incredible things.

"None of this could have ever happened without Jesus Christ and his followers and his Church. None of it.

"And we have to remember that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of our strength and of our hope and here and everywhere and for all time."

Following his speech, Trump was met with a standing ovation by members of the evangelical congregation, while lead pastor Robert Jeffress referred to Trump as one of his "closest friends" and "a great friend to Christians everywhere" as he praised the former president for his "pro-life, pro-religious liberty and pro-Israel" political stances.

Many social media users have criticized Trump for using his Christmas message to 'push his politics'.

One Twitter user said: "The evangelicals can open up the churches so Trump and others can go and deliver speeches instead of worshipping our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ."

Another commented: "There was flagrant political content. Church should lose its tax-exempt status."