President-elect seeks to calm protests and reassure own camp

pulse

November 14, 2016 1:21 AM

Trump also said he stood by his pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border -- although he said it could include some fencing.

Melania Trump (L) listens to her husband US President-elect Donald Trump speak to the press at the US Capitol on November 10, 2016

The Republican billionaire -- whose shock election on a populist and anti-immigration platform has spurred days of protests -- told demonstrators they have no reason to fear his presidency.

"Don't be afraid. We are going to bring our country back," he said in the interview with CBS's "60 Minutes."

Trump said he was "saddened" by reports that incidents of harassment and intimidation of minorities had spiked since his election -- and called for it to end.

"I hate to hear that. I am so saddened to hear that," Trump said when asked about the reports. "If it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it."

Millions were expected to tune in to "60 Minutes" for clues on how the populist billionaire will govern, and how far he intends to convert his strident campaign slogans into hard and fast policy.

Trump sent out clear signals to his core electorate on a string of flashpoint issues.

He reaffirmed plans to aggressively deport or jail as many as three million undocumented immigrants -- those with criminal records, he said.

And on the key issue of the Supreme Court -- where one of nine seats is currently vacant -- he vowed his nominees would support abortion restrictions, and defend the constitutional right to bear arms.

"The judges will be pro-life," Trump told CBS. "In terms of the whole gun situation," he added, "they're going to be very pro-Second Amendment."

But he also signalled that he would not seek to overturn the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States.

"It's law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it's done," Trump said when asked on CBS's "60 minutes" if he supports marriage equality. "And I'm -- I'm fine with that," he added.

And in a final conciliatory gesture, the billionaire said he would forego the $400,000 salary that comes with the function of US president.

"I'm not going to take the salary. I'm not taking it," he said. "I think I have to by law take $1, so I'll take $1 a year," he added.

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