Donald Trump has thanked African-Americans for not voting in the US presidential election.

The President-elect told a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that black voters who stayed at home on Election Day were “almost as good” as those who voted for him.

Mr Trump said: “The African-American community was great to us. They came through, big league. Big league.

“And frankly if they had any doubt, they didn’t vote, and that was almost as good because a lot of people didn’t show up, because they felt good about me.”

Exit polls suggest Mr Trump received the support of just eight per cent of black voters compared to 89 per cent for his Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton.

Despite this, Mrs Clinton won a smaller proportion of votes from ethnic minorities, including African-Americans, than Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. The current President garnered 93 per cent of black Americans’ votes in the 2012 election.

Mr Trump is currently on a victory tour of the states that delivered him victory in the 8 November election. Michigan was one of the previously Democrat states that he was able to turn, although a state-wide recount could theoretically alter that result.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

The President-elect repeated his populist message during the rally. He said: "The American people will be in charge. Your voice, your desires, your hopes, your aspirations, you will never again fall on deaf ears."

He also reiterated his pledge to “build a wall” along the US-Mexico border, saying: "We have people coming into our country by the thousands, thousands and thousands of people and now I don't have to campaign so I don't have to say Hillary's going to increase it by 550 percent.

"No, I don't have to say it anymore. Isn't it nice?"

The rally was interrupted by several protestors who were removed from the venue after the President-elect ordered security staff to “Get ‘em out of here”.

Trump says 'lock her up' chant only 'plays great before the election'

It comes as a leaked report by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said Russia interfered in the presidential election in order to promote Mr Trump.

Reports said US intelligence officials had concluded with “high confidence” that Russia was involved in hacking Democratic Party computers and handing secret documents to WikiLeaks to publish.

Sources said the fact Republican Party computers were also hacked but their contents not released showed Russia was intentionally attempting to assist Mr Trump.

The President-elect’s team responded to the suggestion by saying: ”These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

“The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It’s now time to move on and ‘Make America Great Again.’”