His remarks came a day after American Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was criticised for defending proposals to cut $18 million (£14 million/€16 million) in funding for the organisation, which provides sport for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The 61-year-old appeared in front of a Subcommittee to explain the overall proposed budget of the Department of Education for the next fiscal year.

Trump had proposed funds of $4.7 trillion (£3.6 trillion/€4.2 trillion), which would still mean a cut of $7 billion (£5.3 billion/€6.2 billion).

"I heard about it this morning," said the President.

"I have overridden my people.

"We're funding the Special Olympics."

Wisconsin representative Mark Pocan told DeVos that 270,000 children would be impacted by cuts to funding.

DeVos initially responded by saying "difficult decisions" had to be made and argued the organisation could be backed by philanthropy.

She has donated a portion of her salary to the Special Olympics.

Following Trump’s comments, DeVos moved to clarify the contradiction.

"I am pleased and grateful the President and I see eye-to-eye on this issue and that he has decided to fund our Special Olympics grant," she said in a statement.

"This is funding I have fought for behind the scenes over the past several years."

The Subcommittee was led by the Democratic Party, which controls the House of Representatives.

It meant much of the budget was likely to fail to pass Congress anyway.

Trump's comments were welcomed by Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver.

Prior to them being made, Boston-born Shriver, the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, had admitted the organisation had been at odds with the Trump administration.

"What a day it's been," he said in a video posted on his Twitter account.

"Today, the President joined millions of Americans in saying he believes in the Special Olympics Movement, in our work in schools.

"He joins parents in saying that your child matters, no matter what.

"He joins teachers and young people around the country who say they want to make their schools places of inclusion.

"He joins the Special Olympics Movement in saying we are going to fight for the inclusive future."

Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games this month.