Donald Trump has been urged to dump the former boss of alt-right website Breitbart News Steve Bannon as his chief strategist.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid argued the President-elect’s new senior adviser supported white supremacist views that should disqualify him from the job.

“In one of his (Trump’s) first official acts, he appointed a man seen as a champion of white supremacy. That’s the number one strategist in the White House,” he said.

“If Trump is serious about seeking unity the first thing he should do is rescind the appointment of Steve Bannon. Rescind it, don’t do it.”

Far-right white nationalist Mr Bannon was previously appointed as CEO of Mr Trump’s presidential campaign in August.

Under his stewardship at Breitbart, the pro-Trump website unashamedly pursued a nationalist agenda and became one of the leading outlets of the alt-right movement.

Mr Reid, who is retiring at the end of the year, said Mr Trump’s efforts to unite Americans could not be reconciled with his appointment of Mr Bannon.

"As long as a champion of racial division is a step away from the Oval Office, it would be impossible to take Trump's efforts to heal the nation seriously,” he said.

“So I say to Donald Trump, take responsibility, rise to the dignity of the office; the president of the United States.

“Stop hiding behind your Twitter account, and show America that racism, bullying and bigotry have no place in the White House.”

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John Cornyn, the second most powerful Republican in the Senate, hit back at the Democrat for “doing nothing to contribute to the healing of our country”.