The White House on Monday dismissed  calls for a congressional investigation of allegations Donald Trump sexually harassed women, saying the American people had spoken on the matter by electing him president.

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on Mr Trump to resign, meanwhile, echoing a demand made the previous day by two other Senate Democrats, while a group of 54 Congresswomen backed Mr Trump's accusers in calling for a probe.

Three women who claim they were sexually harassed by Mr Trump before he ran for president urged Congress on Monday to investigate his behaviour and allegations of misconduct. 

The trio, Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey and Rachel Crooks, recounted their allegations, which President Trump has denied, in a live interview with Megyn Kelly on the NBC News show Megyn Kelly Today on Monday.

Ms Kelly clashed with Mr Trump during the election when she asked him about offensive language he had used against women while hosting a live televised debate.

In a statement the White House denied all the claims as "false".

The statement said: "These false claims, totally disputed most cases by eyewitness accounts, were addressed at length during last year's campaign, and the American people voiced their judgement by delivering a decisive victory.

"The timing and absurdity of these false claims speaks volumes and the publicity tour that has begun only further confirms the political motives behind them."

Last October, before the presidential election, Ms Leeds claimed to the New York Times that, while she was seated next to Mr Trump on a plane in the 1980s, he lifted the armrest and grabbed her "like an octopus".

Ms Crooks told the same newspaper last October that, while she was a receptionist, Mr Trump shook her hand, refused to let go, and kissed her on the lips.

Last year Ms Holvey, a former Miss USA beauty pageant contestant, told CNN  that Mr Trump, who owned the pageant, would "look you over from head to toe like we were just meat".

Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing.