Donald Trump says Barack Obama is giving him advice on Cabinet appointments

The President-elect made the remarks during an interview about being named Time's 'Person of the Year'

Donald Trump said he has consulted with President Barack Obama about possible Cabinet choices; and the President, he says, has approved of at least one of his choices for the incoming administration.

The President-elect had not met Mr Obama before their 10 November meeting in the Oval Office, following Mr Trump’s unexpected election win. But the New York businessman had been overtly critical of Mr Obama throughout his campaign.

Additionally, he inserted himself into the current realm of politics by propagating the false and racist “birther” theory, suggesting that the country’s first black president was not a US citizen in 2011.

Speaking on NBC’s Today show, which announced he was Time’s “Person of the Year”, Mr Trump had changed his tone about the President, saying that they have had a “good dialogue” and that they have “good chemistry”. He also said he has sought his input while navigating the transition to the presidency – including on whom he chooses for his Cabinet.

“I have asked him what he would think of this one and that one,” Mr Trump said. “I’ve asked him what he thinks are the biggest problems of the country, what are some of the greatest assets going forward. We have a very good dialogue. …

“I take his recommendations very seriously, and there are some people that I will be appointing, and in one case, have appointed where he thought very highly of that person.”

However, Mr Trump attributed the polarisation of the US to preceding administrations, denying his role in igniting tensions with his xenophobic and racist campaign rhetoric. He denied playing any role in exacerbating that rift in political ideologies.

“I’m not president yet, so I didn’t do anything to divide,” he said.

Mr Trump elaborated on his talks with former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney, whom he says is still in consideration for the job of Secretary of State.

“We had some tremendous difficulty together and now I think we’ve come a long way,” he said. When asked about speculation that he was drawing out talks to humiliate the 2012 presidential candidate, who had previously called Mr Trump a “phony” and “fraud”, he also rejected those claims.

“It’s not about revenge,” he said, “it’s about what’s good for the country, and I’m able to put this stuff behind us.”