Barack Obama has described Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster.”

The former US president made the comments in a conference call with former members of his administration, that was subsequently leaked.

During the call, Mr Obama said: “What we're fighting against is these long-term trends in which being selfish, being tribal, being divided and seeing others as an enemy, that has become a stronger impulse in American life.”

He admitted the outbreak would have been bad “even with the best of governments,” but he added: “It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset of 'what's in it for me' and 'to heck with everybody else' is operationalised in our government.”

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington DC, 24-10-2018. Image: Ting Shen/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

There are now more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of the virus in the US, where nearly 79,000 people have died.

Globally, there have now been more than four million confirmed cases of the virus.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany has described President Trump's handling of the coronavirus as “unprecedented” and claimed the president's actions have helped save American lives.

Then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk through the Crypt of the Capitol for Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, 20-01-2020. Image: USA TODAY Network/SIPA USA/PA Images

Mr Obama told his former team that he will be “campaigning as hard as I can for Joe Biden” ahead of November's election.

With just six to go until Americans cast their votes, polls suggest the race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is tight.

Mr Obama’s comments were first reported by Yahoo News and his office has declined to comment on the leak.