President-elect Donald Trump has rejected as "ridiculous" reported US intelligence findings that Russia intervened in the presidential election on his behalf through targeted hacking.

"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it," Trump said in the interview with "Fox News Sunday."

His comments casting doubt on reported US intelligence findings pits him against some leading foreign policy voices in the US Senate from his own party who on Sunday expressed alarm about election meddling by Moscow and called for a bipartisan investigation.

Trump blamed Democrats for putting out the media reports and said he did not believe they came from the Central Intelligence Agency.

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Trump told "Fox News Sunday" that he thought the reports were "ridiculous". Image: AAP

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Trump blamed Democrats for putting out the media reports. Image: AAP

Trump's dismissal was perhaps aimed at squashing doubts about whether he won the November 8 election fairly. However, his comments could also portend conflicts between the new president and the intelligence agencies he will command and feed criticism that his administration will be soft on Russia.

In his search for a secretary of state nominee, the Republican real estate magnate is strongly considering Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, who has close ties with Moscow and has spoken out against US sanctions on Russia.

"It's a matter of concern to me that he has such a close personal relationship with Vladimir Putin and obviously they've done enormous deals together," Republican Senator John McCain said on CBS' "Face the Nation" program.

"That would colour his approach to Vladimir Putin and the Russian threat."

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