Rupert Murdoch appeared to suggest that Barack Obama isn't 'a real black president'

Rupert Murdoch's Twitter account usually makes for two parts hilarious, one part despairing reading, but the multimillionaire media mogul has outdone himself this time.

He took it upon himself on Wednesday to tweet the suggestion that Barack Obama is not a "real black president" in a message otherwise singing the praises of Republican candidate Ben Carson and his wife Candy:

Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black president who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.

Murdoch then linked to a New York Magazine article about "minority community disappointment" in the president's administration.

Obama, born of a caucasian American mother and a black Kenyan father, is vocal about how race issues have affected his life and American society in general. He identifies as black when asked to state his ethnicity, but has long had to fight criticism over whether he is "black enough" to be in touch with the experience of African-Americans whose ancestors came to the US as slaves.

Both of Carson’s parents are black, and born in the US.

Murdoch has made no secret lately of his approval of the creationist, anti-Muslim former neurosurgeon-turned-politician's bid for the Republican nomination.

But then, back in August, he appeared to tacitly endorse left-winger Jeremy Corbyn's bid for the Labour leadership, too:

More: Ben Carson wants to be president of the United States of America. He thinks Charles Darwin was encouraged by Satan

More: Rupert Murdoch just kind of endorsed Jeremy Corbyn