Stephen Hawking: ‘Trump is a demagogue’

One of the world's most famous scientists has admitted that he is stumped by the popularity of Donald Trump - or the need for the U.K. to leave the European Union.

ITV's Good Morning Britain asked Professor Stephen Hawking, whose story was told in the award-winning "The Theory of Everything', if he understood the ongoing appeal of the billionaire tycoon.

Despite displaying an ability to dissect time, space and black holes, the world's most famous scientist said Trump's success with voters remained a mystery.

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"I can't [understand it]. He's a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator."

Hawking also dived in to another political hot potato by appealing to British people to remain in the European Union come a referendum vote on June 23.

"Gone are the days when we could stand on our own, against the world," he said on the U.K. television show.

"We need to be part of a larger group of nations, both for our security and our trade. The possibility of our leaving the EU has already led to a sharp fall in the pound, because the markets judge that it will damage our economy."

Hawking also said that immigration was a positive to the U.K. as the mobility of people would encourage the exchange of scientific ideas.