Barack Obama reportedly labelled Kanye West a “jackass” for interrupting Taylor Swift's accepatance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.

The president is understood to have made the remark during an off-the-record segment of an interview with CNBC yesterday.

However, his comment entered the public domain after it was relayed by ABC journalist Terry Moran on Twitter.

Moran, who co-hosts Nightline, wrote: "Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a 'jackass' for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT'S presidential."

ABC has since issued a statement apologising to The White House for “prematurely” tweeting comments “that turned out to be from an off-the-record portion of the interview”.

West has faced a barrage of criticism for interrupting Swift as she accepted the award for Best Female Video at the ceremony in New York.

The rapper has since issued three apologies, including an emotional one during an appearance on The Jay Leno Show.

MTV VMAs 2009