Obama says he will speak out if core US values, ideals threatened

US President Barack Obama insisted Sunday Donald Trump still needs space free from criticism to get his team together and policies in place, but suggested he would speak out if core US values were threatened.

"I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off," Obama said, amid concerns about Trump's administration picks and public statements.

But, he said if there is something that "goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals then I'll examine it when it comes."