Donald Trump has entered a Twitter war of words with filmmaker Michael Moore over the Oscar winner’s recent Broadway show.

The US President fired the first verbal shot, calling Moore’s one-man play The Terms of My Surrender, which criticises the Trump administration, a “total bomb” despite never attending the production.

“While not at all presidential,” Mr Trump wrote, “I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!”

While not at all presidential I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2017

Mr Moore took up the gauntlet, responding in a series of tweets accusing the President of trying to distract the public from problems in Afghanistan and Puerto Rico, and with the Russia probe in election meddling.

The Terms of My Surrender closed on October 22 – apparently on schedule – after a 12-week stint at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles.

“You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency – which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early,” Mr Moore wrote. “NOT SAD.”

“They say Twitter ‘distracts’ you from your presidency. But Twitter IS YOUR PRESIDENCY! It’s all you know how to do. #LOSER!”

The spat comes a day after news that special counsel Robert Mueller will serve the first public criminal charges in his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

“What’s it like to be Donald Trump today, just hrs away from the first of many criminal indictments that could send friends & family to jail?” Mr Moore said.

…I'm the1st u decide to apologize 2 for being "not at all presidential"? Tomorrow's arrests of your family/friends must be messing u up.

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017

Mr Moore, winner of the Best Documentary Oscar in 2003 for Bowling for Columbine, then added that one US soldier was killed and six wounded in a non-combat helicopter accident in the “never-ending” war in Afghanistan on Sunday.

“You, our President, are not even aware of this,” Mr Moore tweeted. “You ARE aware I’m a ‘B’way star’ & I guess this bothers you more. SAD.”

In addition, Mr Moore labelled Mr Trump’s accusations as “fake news”, claiming his play was the highest-grossing non-musical act of the summer, “despite my offering $29 cheap seats + free student tix so ALL could afford.”

“My Broadway show sold millions of dollars of tickets. It did so well it’s going to tour the country in 2018. It grossed an amazing $4.2 million in just 12 weeks,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Moore capped off his heavy-handed response posting a photo of himself with the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

11) For now, at least, I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support, Jared!) pic.twitter.com/mTwLxW4KgR

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017

The public spat comes as Mr Trump’s public support in October fell to its lowest level since he took office, according to a survey published by The Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

Support for Mr Trump dropped another five percentage points since September and now hovers at 38 per cent, while those who disapprove of his performance in office comprised 58 per cent of the 900 people surveyed.

– with AAP