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1st LD Writethru: Trump unveils policy priorities including amending Obamacare

Xinhua, November 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has softened on his tough words against the Affordable Care Act Friday, opting to amend the law rather than to appeal it.

Trump made the remarks as he unveiled his policy priorities in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

The decision to leave in place parts of the Act, also known as Obamacare, was made after conferring with U.S. President Barack Obama, according to the report.

Before elected president, Trump has been fiercely critical of the signature legislature pushed forward by Obama, vowing to quickly repeal it after taking the helm.

The softened tone is viewed as a compromise after Trump ran a campaign that promised policy u-turns from the current administration.

The Obamacare was a hotly debated topic during the election, with voters' views on the 2010 health law highly polarized. Anger over soaring health costs may have pushed some traditionally pro-Democrat regions toward Trump's direction, according to media reports.

Other plans prioritized by Trump included deregulating financial institutions to allow "banks to lend again" and securing the border against drugs and illegal immigrants.

Addressing the anti-Trump protests that erupted in multiple cities after the election, Trump said he wanted "a country that loves each other," adding that the best way to ease tension would be to create jobs.

Earlier today the New York Times reported that Trump had tapped his running mate Mike Pence to head his transition team, in a bid to use Pence's resources and contacts in Washington to speed up the process. Enditem