NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - Thousands of Americans spilled into the streets Saturday for a new day of protests against Donald Trump, even as the president-elect appeared to back away from the fiery rhetoric that propelled him to the White House.
The Republican billionaire - huddled with his transition team at his Manhattan residence - has sought to strike a conciliatory tone since his election sent a shockwave around the world, announcing Friday he no longer intended to scrap Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, Obamacare.
"This will prove to be a great time in the lives of ALL Americans. We will unite and we will win, win, win!" he tweeted Saturday, as up to 15,000 people prepared to march on Trump Tower under the rallying cry of "Trump is NOT my president."
In downtown Chicago, several thousand marched peacefully to chants of "No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here."
Four days after his shock election, the world is scrutinizing the maverick's every move for clues to how he will govern.
Top Trump surrogate Newt Gingrich also cast doubt on whether Trump would make Mexico fund his proposed border wall -- another rallying cry for his supporters. "He'll spend a lot of time controlling the border. He may not spend very much time trying to get Mexico to pay for it, but it was a great campaign device," Gingrich was reported as saying by The Washington Post.
Despite his more measured tone, the Republican has yet to respond to mounting calls to reassure the US public who fear a xenophobic crackdown under his authority.
The South Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, tracked more than 200 incidents of election-related harassment and intimidation in the three days following the election.
More than 47,000 people have signed an SPLC petition urging Trump to clearly distance himself from "haters" - from white nationalists to anti-Muslim and anti-gay extremists - who are celebrating his victory.
Thousands of anti-Trump protesters held a third straight night of largely peaceful marches on Thursday, although violence marred a rally in Portland, Oregon, where a demonstrator was shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries after what police believe was a confrontation.
In a CBS interview to be aired on Sunday, Trump spoke warmly of the election night call he received from Clinton conceding that he had won. "It was a lovely call, and it was a tough call for her - I mean, I can imagine," he said according to interview excerpts, praising his vanquished foe as "very strong and very smart."
He also spoke about a call he received from her husband, former president Bill Clinton, who he said "couldn't have been more gracious."
The president-elect said he wouldn't rule out approaching the former US leader for advice.
Trump said as much of Obama after their apparently harmonious meeting, saying he was open to seeking his "counsel."
TRUMP ON OBAMACARE
Donald Trump says he is open to retaining parts of President Barack Obama's healthcare law including provisions letting parents keep adult children up to age 26 on insurance policies and barring insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Trump made that statement an an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Saturday, indicating possible compromise after repeatedly vowing on the campaign trail that he would repeal the measure.He said the reason for such a big shift was his meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday.
Trump said that Obama suggested that areas of the measure be preserved, adding, “I told him I will look at his suggestions, and out of respect, I will do that.”
“Either Obamacare will be amended, or repealed and replaced,” he stated, adding he would preserve at least two provisions of the law.He said that he liked keeping the prohibition against insurers who deny coverage due to patients’ existing conditions as well as a provision that lets parents provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies.“I like those very much,” Trump said.
In an address in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, on November 1, Trump said, “When we win on Nov 8 and elect a Republican Congress, we will be able to immediately repeal and replace Obamacare. We have to do it.”“I will ask Congress to convene a special session so we can repeal and replace,” he added.
Signed into law by Obama on March 23, 2010, Obamacare is a reformed law that was intended to expand and improve access to healthcare and reduce the cost of health insurance.
Opponents of Obamacare argue that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to subsidize insurance in states that rejected their own exchange for the federal system.
In October, 2015, the US House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill that was aimed at repealing parts of Obamacare and bringing to a halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. However, Obama vetoed the bill.
