Donald Trump rows back on Obamacare repeal pledge

Donald Trump would consider leaving in place parts of Obamacare, the US president-elect has said in a sign he may be willing to water-down some of his radical campaign promises.

The change of heart over the Affordable Care Act appears to follow his White House meeting with Barack Obama.

The Affordable Care Act, introduced in 2010, is a signature piece of legislation for Mr Obama who is now facing having his legacy quickly unpicked by Mr Trump.

In his first interview since his election win, Mr Trump also told the Wall Street Journal that he had given only a little though to appointing a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton, despite angry campaign rhetoric that saw him brand his Democratic rival "Crooked Hillary".

• Video report by ITV News Washington correspondent Robert Moore

He told the paper he was moving away from an all-out repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and indicated there were provisions he would consider keeping following his discussion with Mr Obama.

Those provisions are the legislation's prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and rules allowing parents to provide years of additional coverage for their children on their own policies, the Wall Street Journal said.

“I like those very much,” Mr Trump was quoted as saying.

He also hinted that he would relax regulation on financial institutions and preserve jobs by imposing tariffs on products manufactured by US companies that relocate overseas.

Mr Trump's aggressive election campaign polarised voters and has led to protests by minority groups.

In a stinging statement following the election, outgoing Senate minority leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, called Mr Trump a "sexual predator" who fuelled his campaign with "bigotry and hate".

But since his election, Mr Trump has on occasion adopted a more conciliatory tone.

“I want a country that loves each other,” Mr. Trump said in his interview. "I want to stress that."