In a thoughtful defence of his right to make controversial jokes, Ricky Gervais​ has described Donald Trump as out-doing The Office's David Brent as a delusional man who says stupid things.

The British comic and filmmaker has admitted he likes the Republican presidential candidate's speeches.

"I've made my fortune out of playing delusional, middle-aged men who say stupid things and people love them," Gervais told The Hollywood Reporter. "But he's beaten me. Trump is better than David Brent.

"It's funny, comedians tell a joke and they get in trouble; Donald Trump says a terrible thing and means it, and he gets elected."

Gervais, who was promoting the release of the comedy Special Correspondents on Netflix, said he understood why Trump had proven appealing.

"Trump hit a vein. He hit the peak of political correctness and he's an antidote to all that.

"People are tired of being told they can't say things so he's suddenly this poster boy for saying what's on your mind, however terrible it is. And it's going to go the other way. Trump's going to get in, and suddenly there's going to be 32 Jon Stewarts. It's cyclical; people build their different armies."

Gervais said he only recently realised that Trump could actually become president.

"I should have realised sooner. Think about it: we live a world where there are warnings on bottles of bleach - we have to tell people not to drink bleach.

"In that world, Trump can be president. And in a sense, you get what you deserve. That's democracy, baby! It's just a really odd thing to have this man who's meant to be the most powerful man in the world act like a Twitter troll."

Gervais, whose cutting barbs have been a highlight of his Golden Globes hosting, said he still believed jokes should be told about anything.

"No harm comes from exposing taboos," he said. "You can tell jokes about race, about disability, about sex, without them being racist, disablist or sexist.

"Some people don't get that. 'Ooh, you can't joke about that.' That's ridiculous. It's almost like joking about a terrible thing is worse than seriously believing a terrible thing."

Gervais said he was proud of a controversial joke he made about Jenner at the Golden Globes this year.

"It wasn't transphobic at all," he said. "At no point did I make fun of her transition. I had to call her Bruce because the joke was, 'I've changed, not as much as Bruce Jenner.'

"Bruce Jenner is the person who changed. Even if you acknowledge the fact that transgender people say they're always that gender, the joke is about change.

"I respect that Caitlyn Jenner is a she, which is why I then said, "What a year she's had. Became a role model for trans people everywhere, bravely breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. Didn't do a lot for women drivers.'

"I'm very proud of that joke because it's about stereotypes; and I used the stereotype of women drivers with a transgender person, so I am acknowledging that she is a woman."

But with that joke stirring up a reaction online at the time, Gervais had a shot at reporting that overplays the power of social media.

"Social media gives arguments more credence than they often deserve because now what you get is. 'Chris Rock enraged the internet with his joke about so and so.' Poxygirl415 said, 'Disgusting.' Nastydrink613 said, 'He should be thrown off the telly.'

"They show two tweets and it has 'enraged the internet.' No, it hasn't. There are seven billion people on this planet. Some of them are in a war zone. Some are dying. Some just saw someone get run over.

"They're not enraged about a comedian making a joke about a celebrity. They're not. They f---ing tweeted."