Donald Trump calls reported CIA conclusion into Russian hacking 'ridiculous'

Donald Trump has dismissed the CIA's verdict that Russia actively worked to influence the presidential election.

Senior intelligence officials told US media on Friday that they are confident Russian hackersmeddled in the election to help Trump win.

But in comments - likely to damage his already faltering relationship with the US intelligencecommunity - the president-elect said the conclusion was "ridiculous" and American spies have "no idea" what happened.

He accused Democrats of putting out the reports, claiming they were embarrassed and looking for "another excuse" for his victory over Hillary Clinton.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Trump told Fox News Sunday. “I think it’s just another excuse. I don’t believe it...No, I don’t believe it at all.”

He also said in the interview that he does not require daily intelligence briefings when he becomes president on January 20 because he is "a smart person".

"I don't have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years."

Trump had already responded to allegations of Russian interference with a scathing statement released on Saturday, in which he questioned the very credibility of intelligence agencies.

“These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction,” he said. “The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It’s now time to move on and ‘Make America Great Again.’”

A group of Democratic and Republican senators - including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and former Republican presidential nominee John McCain - have called for bipartisan support for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations, saying the CIA's assessment "should alarm every American".

President Obama has already ordered a review of hacks which targeted emails at the Democratic Party and John Podesta, one of Clinton's top aides, during the election campaign.

The row comes amid concern over his reported choice for secretary of state, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil Rex Tillerson.

Tillerson - who has no diplomatic experience outside of the energy industry - has close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who awarded the businessman Russia's 'Order of Friendship' in 2013.

Senator McCain told NBC on Saturday that the 64-year-old Texan's connection to Putin would be a "matter of concern" and closely examined if he were nominated.

Trump insisted he had still not made a decision on who would be his secretary of state but used his interview with Fox News to lavish praise on Tillerson.

"He's much more than a business executive - he's a world-class player," he said.

"And to me, a great advantage is he knows many of the players, and he knows them well. He does massive deals in Russia. He does massive deals for the company -- not for himself -- for the company."