Backlash over Donald Trump appointment of man hailed by white supremacists

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said: “After winning the presidency but losing the popular vote, President-elect Trump must try to bring Americans together - not continue to fan the flames of division and bigotry.” She called Mr Bannon's appointment “an alarming signal” that Donald Trump “remains committed to the hateful and divisive vision that defined his campaign”. Internal deliberations about staffing come a day after Mr Trump made overtures to warring Republican circles by appointing Mr Bannon and RNC chairman Reince Priebus as his White House chief of staff. Meanwhile, outgoing president Barack Obama avoided any direct criticism of Mr Trump's personnel moves during an afternoon news conference, suggesting that the new president deserves “room to staff up”. “The American people will judge over the course of the next couple of years whether they like what they see.” The outgoing president encouraged Mr Trump, however, to embrace a unifying tone, saying: “It's really important to try to send some signals of unity and to reach out to minority groups or women or others that were concerned about the tenor of the campaign.