Trump slams 'no action' civil rights campaigner John Lewis for boycott
As protesters march in Washington, Mr Trump hits out at a high-profile Democrat who says he is snubbing his inauguration.
Saturday 14 January 2017 23:25, UK
Donald Trump has said a civil rights campaigner and politician who is boycotting his inauguration is "all talk" and should focus on fixing his "crime infested" district.
Congressman John Lewis, who represents an area that includes most of Atlanta, is the most high-profile Democrat to snub next Friday's event.
He said he would be avoiding the swearing-in ceremony because the tycoon is not a "legitimate president".
Known for his decades of civil rights work, Mr Lewis told US media that Russia's alleged hacking had helped Mr Trump defeat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
It comes as several thousand protesters marched against Mr Trump in Washington DC.
Mr Lewis told NBC's Meet The Press: "I don't see this President-elect as a legitimate president.
"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton."
In response, Mr Trump tweeted: "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results.
"All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!"
Mr Lewis, 76, is one of those who marched with Martin Luther King at the 1963 rally in Washington where Mr King gave his "I have a dream" speech.
The Washington protest on Saturday, led by another civil rights activist, Reverend Al Sharpton, saw about 2,000 people brave the rain near the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.
Demonstrators voiced anger over the Republican's comments on minority groups including Muslims and Mexicans, as well as plans to scrap Obamacare.
"We march in the driving rain because we want the nation to understand that what has been fought for and gained, that you're going to need more than one election to turn it around," said Rev Sharpton.
He told Democrats in Congress to "get some backbone" and fight against Mr Trump.
"We will march until hell freezes over, and when it does, we will march on the ice," said Cornell William Brooks, head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Mr Trump now says he believes Russia hacked DNC accounts after originally being sceptical of the allegations.
He has said he will keep sanctions against Russia in place "at least for a period of time".
However, the President-elect told the Wall Street Journal that he might do away with the sanctions if Moscow proves helpful in battling terrorists and achieving other goals.
Mr Trump also told the newspaper he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin some time after he is sworn in on 20 January.
The sanctions were imposed by the Obama administration in late December in response to Moscow's alleged cyberattacks.
They targeted the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies that the US said were involved in the hacking.
The US also kicked out 35 Russian diplomats.
Mr Trump has rejected as "fake news" a report that includes unsubstantiated claims that Russia had amassed compromising personal and financial information about him.
He blamed the report on "sleazebag political operatives".
Watch live coverage of the inauguration on Paste BN from 3pm and Sky Atlantic from 4pm on 20 January. Adam Boulton will be in the US to present a special Paste BN programme - Trump: America's President - every day next week from midnight.
Read more:
:: A guide to Donald Trump's inauguration
:: Trump looking increasingly isolated on Russia
:: Sky Views: Trump dossier seems plausible, if unproven