US President-elect Donald Trump has awarded key roles in his incoming team to a top Republican party official and a conservative media chief.

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), will be his chief of staff.

In this role, he will set the tone for the new White House and act as a conduit to Congress and the government, reports the BBC.

Stephen Bannon, from the conservative Breitbart News Network, will serve as Trump’s chief strategist.

Bannon stepped aside temporarily as Breitbart’s executive chairman to act as Trump’s campaign chief.

The Republican candidate defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s presidential vote, in a result which shocked many, who had expected Clinton to win following favorable opinion polls.

Trump is due to take over at the White House on January 20, when Barack Obama steps down after two terms in office.

Meanwhile in the president-elect’s first interview, with US broadcaster CBS, Trump said:

He would deport or jail up to three million illegal migrants with criminal links; future Supreme Court nominees would be “pro-life” and defend the constitutional right to bear arms; he will not seek to overturn the legalization of same-sex marriage.

He further said he will forgo the president’s $400,000 salary, taking $1 a year instead.

BDST: 0857 HRS, NOV 14, 2016
SR