The Republican governor of Georgia has appointed an Atlanta businesswoman to take over a US Senate seat, in a rare act of defiance of Donald Trump by a member of his own party.

Brian Kemp named Kelly Loeffler to take over after senator Johnny Isakson retires at the end of the year, even though Mr Trump had reportedly pressed for the seat to be filled by congressman Doug Collins .

But, while the pick is not exactly what the president may have wanted, it is unlikely Ms Loeffler — an executive at a commodities trading firm in Atlanta and prominent GOP donor — will present much of a headache for the president.