IN his first TV interview in the US, Donald Trump revealed what scares him, his relationship with Barack Obama and his plans to shake up US foreign policy.

President Trump gave his first TV interview to ABC News anchor David Muir, and told him how he felt after he first received the nuclear codes: “It is a very sobering moment, yes. It’s very, very, very scary in a sense.”

He showed off the “beautiful” letter left for him by former President Obama. He says he called Mr Obama to thank him.

“It was long, it was complex, it was thoughtful,” he said.

He said the letter told him “I represented a lot of people ... he wants me to do a great job.”

He also said that Mr Obama told him that if his health care plan was better than Obamacare, he would support it.

The 45th President also took Muir on a tour of the White House, and into the Oval Office.

BORDER CONTROL: Trump’s new laws could hit Australia

CONSPIRACY THEORY: Was Trump’s bodyguard wearing a false arm?

ECONOMIC BOOST: Dow hits 20,000 for first time

media_camera ABC anchor David Muir with President Donald Trump. Picture: ABC/Supplied

He told him that waterboarding and other interrogation techniques widely seen as torture - and prohibited by law - “absolutely” work, but would defer to his CIA and Pentagon chiefs on whether to reinstate them.

When asked about waterboarding in an interview with ABC News at the White House, Trump said it was necessary to “fight fire with fire” in the face of the beheadings of Americans and other atrocities by Islamic State militants.

media_camera President Trump’s first TV interview aired today. Picture: ABC/Supplied

The comments from the new Republican president - which echo statements he made on the campaign trail - come as reports suggest his administration may be considering the reinstatement of secret CIA “black site” prisons overseas.

“When they’re chopping off the heads of our people, and other people... when ISIS is doing things that nobody has ever heard of since medieval times, would I feel strongly about waterboarding? As far as I’m concerned, we have to fight fire with fire,” he said.

But he said he would rely on the advice of Pentagon chief James Mattis and Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo.

President Trump on waterboarding: “I feel it works,” but will rely on team’s guidance and do everything “legally." https://t.co/89o6NhpsWh pic.twitter.com/vWoL5W2ycc — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

“I’m going to go with what they say,” Trump told ABC. “And if they don’t want to do, that’s fine. If they do wanna do, then I will work toward that end. I want to do everything within the bounds of what you’re allowed to do legally.”

“But do I feel it works? Absolutely, I feel it works.” The New York Times reported on a three-page draft order reauthorizing the “black site” prisons where suspects detained after the 9/11 attacks of 2001 were subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques” -- including waterboarding.

media_camera President Trump has given a candid interview with Daivd Muir. Picture: ABC/Supplied

A Trump spokesman said the draft seen by the newspaper did not originate at the White House.

In February 2016, Trump said “torture works” and pledged to bring back waterboarding and “much worse.”

The New York Times reported on a three-page draft order reauthorising the “black site” prisons where suspects detained after the 9/11 attacks of 2001 were subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques” - including waterboarding.

A Trump spokesman said the draft seen by the newspaper did not originate at the White House.

He later admitted the Women’s March that went around the world drew large crowds and conceded he will have to try to unite the country. “I absolutely have a responsibility to everybody,” he said.

When asked what keeps him awake at night, he said the economy over terrorism.

He also confirmed the wall would be built between the US and Mexico “in months”, and stressed that Mexico will “absolutely” reimburse the US for the wall.

He said that it was “very easy” to get into the US, and said there was “plenty of anger” around the world.

“The world is a mess. The world is as angry as it gets,” he said.

He sais he did not want terrorism in the US, when asked about him siging off on a potential executive order to change the way immigrants are screened before they enter America.

Pres. Trump on potential reaction to executive action on immigration: "The world is a mess. The world is as angry as it gets." pic.twitter.com/1x4MPh18wF — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

Pres. Trump: Construction of border wall to begin "in months"; Mexico will "absolutely" reimburse the U.S. for wall. https://t.co/H0uApVrTYu pic.twitter.com/pK7YxUmb0O — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

President Trump said he wasn’t keen to “change too much” since he became President, as he reflected on his life before and after he took the top job.

Pres. Trump on if his first 5 days in office has changed him: “I don’t want to change too much." https://t.co/89o6NhpsWh pic.twitter.com/Le2XGq31ql — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

But he said he was planning on launching investigation into alleged voter fraud: “I want the voting process to be legitimate,” he told Muir.

President Trump to launch investigation into alleged voter fraud: "I want the voting process to be legitimate." https://t.co/zjjJ6vMqXU pic.twitter.com/gDK765766l — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

As for his addressing his Inauguration and the official crowd size, which has been the source of much debate across the world, President Trump spoke of how his supporters were being “demeaned unfairly”.

“That was some crowd,” he said.

“I said the men and women I was talking to will never be forgotten again.”

Pres. Trump "won’t allow" anyone to demean people in Inauguration crowd: "We had the biggest audience in the history of inaugural speeches." pic.twitter.com/13dHFLbqn1 — ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017

CLIMATE SCIENCE GAG ORDER EXTENDED

The Trump administration has backed down on a threat to vet studies and data published by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing it to be published only after undergoing political scruitiny.

However, all new work has been placed under a “temporary hold” before it can be released.

The communications director for President Donald Trump’s transition team at EPA, Doug Ericksen, said the review extends to all existing content on the federal agency’s website, including details of scientific evidence showing that the Earth’s climate is warming and man-made carbon emissions are to blame.

Ericksen clarified his earlier statements he made to The Associated Press, which reported that the Trump administration was mandating that any studies or data from EPA scientists undergo review by political appointees before they can be released to the public.

He said he was speaking about existing scientific information on the EPA website that is under review by members of the Trump administration’s transition team.

He said new work by the agency’s scientists is subject to the same “temporary hold” as other kinds of public releases, which he said would likely be lifted by Friday. He said there was no mandate to subject studies or data to political review.

media_camera Getting tough. President Donald Trump takes the cap off a pen before signing an executive order for immigration actions. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais.

‘MEXICO ISN’T PAYING FOR A F**KING WALL’

Mexico’s former president has come out swinging against Donald Trump to protest his wall, as the US President is also expected to stop taking Muslim refugees.

A senior government official says Mexico’s president is “considering” cancelling next week’s visit to Washington following Donald Trump’s order to begin construction of a wall between the two countries.

The official, who was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the administration “is considering” scrapping the January 31 visit.

“That’s what I can tell you.”

The decision to rethink the visit comes amid growing outrage in Mexico, and a sense among many that President Enrique Pena Nieto has been too weak in the face of Trump’s tough policy stance.

media_camera Not happy. Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto is under pressure in the face of Trump’s tough policy stance. Picture: Marco Ugarte.

Former president Vicente Fox, meanwhile, used an expletive yet again on Twitter to tell the White House’s spokesman that Mexico will not pay for the wall.

“Sean Spicer, I’ve said this to realDonaldTrump and now I’ll tell you: Mexico is not going to pay for that f**king wall. F**kingWall,” Fox thundered.

Margarita Zavala, a potential 2018 presidential candidate of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), wrote on Twitter: “The announcement of @realDonaldTrump’s wall before the visit of @EPN (Pena Nieto) is an affront to Mexico.”

“The visit must be reconsidered,” Zavala said hours before Trump’s announcement, adding in Spanish a hashtag that translates to “no to the wall.”

President Trump issued an executive order for a wall to be built along the southern US border with Mexico on Wednesday (US time).

He also signed an action to strip funds from US cities that are sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants.

Mr Trump said in a TV interview that Mexico would “absolutely, 100%” reimburse the US for his wall.

media_camera A man of his word. US President Donald Trump signs an executive order to start the Mexico border wall project at the Department of Homeland Security facility in Washington, DC. Picture: Nicholas Kamm.

Building a 3220km wall along the Mexican border was one of his key pledges in the election campaign.

“We’ve been talking about this right from the beginning,” he said as he signed the actions during a ceremony at the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump yesterday tweeted he had a “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY”.

Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

As of Wednesday afternoon US time, the White House had not circulated copies of the documents or briefed reporters on the details, as has been typical practice in past administrations.

While Trump has repeatedly said the border structure will be a wall, his spokesman Sean Spicer said more generally the president was ordering construction of a “large physical barrier.”

TRUMP SLAMMED OVER MUSLIM IMMIGRANT PLAN

Immigrant and refugee advocates have denounced White House plans to temporarily stop receiving refugees and suspend visas for people from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries, saying they target Muslims and will make America less safe.

A draft executive order seen by Reuters that Trump is expected to sign in the coming days would block the entry of refugees from war-torn Syria and suspend the entry of any immigrants from Muslim-majority Middle Eastern and African countries Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen while permanent rules are studied.

Trump is also expected to order a multi-month ban on allowing refugees into the United States except for religious minorities escaping persecution, until more aggressive vetting is in place, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified.

The administration’s aim is to head off Islamist violence in the United States, but critics say the measures soil America’s reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants of all kinds.

media_camera ‘Fight fire with fire’. Guards inside the Camp Delta military-run prison at the Guantánamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba.

TRUMP TO PROBE VOTER FRAUD

The new President announced he will seek a probe into alleged voter fraud after claiming that several million people voted illegally in November’s election that brought him to power.

“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and even those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on the results we will strengthen up voting procedures!” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.

I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

There is no public evidence of widespread illegal voting in last year’s poll and the White House is yet to substantiate the president’s claim.

Hours after Mr Trump told congressional leaders that as many as five million people could have voted illegally, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said this belief was based “on the studies he’s seen.”

Mr Spicer said Mr Trump had seen a study suggesting that 14 per cent of people who voted “were non-citizens.”

media_camera The messenger. White House press secretary Sean Spicer says he has seen a study which suggests voter fraud.

If proven, it would be an enormous political scandal.

Mr Spicer said the Republican president nonetheless had confidence in the election outcome.

Mr Trump lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by around 2.9 million votes, but won the all-important state-weighted electoral college.

US House Speaker Paul Ryan says an investigation is the right thing to do.

“I’m sure there is some fraud,” Ryan told MSNBC in an interview.

“If he believes that there is a problem to be looked at, the right thing is to get an investigation to get the facts.” Ryan added that he had not seen evidence of “this kind of widespread numbers that we have been hearing about”.

US WEIGHS CUTS TO GLOBAL FUNDING: REPORT

The President is considering drastic funding cuts to international organisations and a review of treaties that could lead to a US withdrawal, the New York Times reported .

The new administration is preparing two executive orders, drafts of which were obtained by the newspaper show, that could deprive the United Nations and other organisations of billions of dollars.

The first draft order calls for scrapping all funding to any UN agency or international body that gives full membership to the Palestinians, or supports programs that fund abortion or any activity that circumvents sanctions against Iran or North Korea.

It would also terminate funding to organisations that are “controlled or substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism,” or are blamed for systematic violations of human rights.

media_camera World’s most vulnerable. A US funding cut to peacekeeping would deal a severe blow to the 16 peace missions worldwide, most of which are in Africa. Picture: Mustafa Abdi.

The order calls for an overall decrease of at least 40 per cent in all other US funding to international organisations and sets up a committee to look specifically at US financial contributions for UN peacekeeping operations.

The United States is by far the UN’s biggest financial contributor, providing 22 per cent of its operating budget and funding 28 percent of peacekeeping missions, which currently cost $7.8 billion annually.

A US funding cut to peacekeeping would deal a severe blow to the 16 peace missions worldwide, most of which are in Africa.

The second order calls for a review of all current and pending multilateral treaties and requests recommendations on which negotiations or treaties the United States should leave.

The Paris climate deal could be affected by the proposed order. Trump has openly questioned climate change and campaigned on a pledge to renege on US commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help finance the transition to a green economy.

CHICAGO MAYOR WELCOMES FEDS, NOT TROOPS

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he would welcome federal law enforcement help to deal with a spiking murder rate, in response to a tweet from Trump promising to “send in the feds.” But he strongly rejected the notion that Trump might employ the National Guard.

Political leaders in Chicago were abuzz over the president’s tweet promising to act if the city cannot “fix the horrible ‘carnage’ going on.”

Chicago has struggled with a soaring murder rate and rampant shootings. Last year, there were more than 750 murders and 3500 shootings, and this January has proven deadlier than last.

“The president has offered, and repeated, that he wants to offer federal help as it relates to public safety. I’m going to take him up on that offer,” said Emanuel, a prominent Democrat who was former president Barack Obama’s first White House chief of staff.

media_camera Welcomes help. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a press conference where he addressed issues related to the city's murder rate . Picture: Scott Olson.

The mayor said he had spoken as recently as last week with White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Vice President Mike Pence.

“What we do agree is in using federal law enforcement resources to help and support local law enforcement,” Emanuel said at a news conference.

But the president’s “send in the feds” comment prompted speculation among some that the National Guard could be called upon to help police the city, a notion the mayor rejected.

“I’m against it, straight up,” Emanuel said.

“It’s antithetical to the spirit of what community policing is.”

TRUMP ‘WON’T PAY FOR WORK’ AT DC HOTEL

An electrical subcontractor who worked on the Trump International Hotel in Washington has sued a company owned by President Donald Trump for more than $US2 million ($A2.6 million)

AES Electrical filed its lawsuit in the District of Columbia Superior Court, the latest in a string of lawsuits involving Trump’s renovation of the historic Old Post Office building a few blocks from the White House.

AES, a California company doing business locally under the name Freestate Electrical Construction Co, alleged that it bore increased expenses last year because of change orders and other demands from Trump’s staff.

AES said it was told to accelerate the pace of work so that the then-Republican presidential candidate could hold a televised media event to celebrate the “soft opening” of the $US200 million ($A264 million) project prior to the November election.

The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

media_camera Show me the money. An electrical subcontractor who worked on the Trump International Hotel in Washington has sued a company owned by President Donald Trump alleging it was not fully paid. Picture: Alex Brandon.

Meanwhile, Trump’s namesake luxury hotel chain said on Wednesday it plans to expand primarily in the US market while he is president.

“We see significant growth opportunity in the United States for both our hotel brands,” a Trump Hotels spokesperson told AFP in an email, referring also to the newly announced Scion brand of more moderately priced hotels.

There are eight Trump hotels currently in the US. The company has properties in Hawaii and Virginia, as well as Chicago, New York (two), Las Vegas, Miami and the newest site just blocks from the White House.

WHITE HOUSE PROTEST

Greenpeace protesters climbed a crane and hung a massive ‘Resist’ sign over the White House.

The Guardian reports that Pearl Robinson, 26, held a rope keeping the banner up and spoke from on top of the crane.

“I can see the White House, where we now have a president who doesn’t have the interests of the majority of the people,” she said.

SUPREME COURT PICK

Mr Trump said he intends to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court on February 2, and three federal appeals court judges are said to be the frontrunners to fill the lifetime seat held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative icon.

I will be making my Supreme Court pick on Thursday of next week.Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

The leading contenders, who have met with Mr Trump, are William Pryor, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman, according to a person familiar with the process who was not authorised to speak publicly about internal decisions and discussed the search on condition of anonymity.

The three, ranging in age from 49 to 54, were on the list of 21 potential high court picks Trump announced during his presidential campaign.

Pryor, 54, is an Alabama-based judge on the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Gorsuch, 49, is on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Hardiman, 51, is based in Pittsburgh for the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals.

media_camera Merrick Garland was Barack Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court.

All were nominated by President George W. Bush for their current posts. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Trump said he will make his High Court pick next Thursday.

Senate Republicans prevented President Barack Obama from filling the seat, a political gamble that paid off when Mr Trump was elected.

Democrats and liberal interest groups fuming over the Republican refusal to consider Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the court, are ready to fight any Trump nominee who is “outside the mainstream,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said after a White House meeting about the court vacancy on Tuesday.

media_camera Judge William Pryor is on Donald Trump’s short list for the Supreme Court.

Mr Pryor has a reputation as staunch conservative with a taste for academic rigour. He once called the landmark 1973 decision legalising abortion the “worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.”

Some conservatives also have recently criticised Mr Pryor for his vote in 2011 in favour of a transgender woman who sued for sex discrimination.

media_camera Judge Neil Gorsuch is on the short list for the Supreme Court.

Mr Gorsuch is the closest on Mr Trump’s list to a Washington insider — the son of former EPA administrator Anne Gorsuch, educated in the Ivy League and at Oxford, law clerk to Justice Anthony Kennedy and Bush-era Justice Department official.

His opinions and outside writings, praised for their clear, colloquial style, include a call for courts to second-guess government regulations, defence of religious freedom and scepticism toward law enforcement.

He has contended that courts give too much deference to government agencies’ interpretations of statutes. He sided with groups that held religious objections to the Obama administration’s requirements that employers provide health insurance that includes contraception.

media_camera Judge Thomas Hardiman is on the short list for the Supreme Court.

Mr Hardiman has sided with jails seeking to strip-search inmates arrested for even minor offences and has supported gun rights, dissenting in a 2013 case that upheld a New Jersey law to tighten requirements for carrying a handgun in public.

Last year, he joined two 3rd Circuit colleagues in affirming the $1 billion settlement of NFL concussion claims, rejecting complaints that men with depression and mood disorders were left out of the deal.

A Massachusetts native, he settled in Pittsburgh, where his wife comes from a family of prominent Democrats.

Originally published as President Trump’s rare admissions