'Trump' hits back at Anderson Cooper over 5-year-old slur

A "cartoonish" Donald Trump has hit back at CNN host Anderson Cooper, calling him a "dumb-dumb" and a "stupidhead" for accusing him of acting like a five-year-old.

The self-proclaimed billionaire made an unwitting appearance on satirical news program The Late Show with Stephen Colbert but with a twist.

Colbert said Mr Trump had "turned into a cartoonish version of himself", so rather than speaking to the man vying for the presidency, the comedian instead interviewed a cartoon version of him.

Continuing to ridicule the Republican candidate's childish bickering with Cooper a day earlier, the program imagined what Mr Trump would now have to say to the respected journalist.

"Anderson Cooper's a dumb-dumb," the Trump avatar said.

"He's a stupidhead, a total poopy-pants."

When Colbert said his response sounded immature, the cartoon replied: "I know you are but what am I?"

"Stephen, I'm rubber and you're glue. I have a lawyer, and I will sue."

Despite his controversial comments and accusations of unsuitability for high office, Mr Trump remains well-placed to win the Republican Party's nomination for president.