Donald Trump believes Obama is behind some protests against Republicans

President Donald Trump says he believes President Barack Obama is behind some of the protests against Republicans.

Donald Trump denied that there’s a “major leak process” at the White House following reports that White House press secretary Sean Spicer targeted leaks from his own staff. Picture: AFP

President Donald Trump says he believes President Barack Obama is behind some of the protests against Republican politicians across the country.

In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends, Mr Trump responded to a question about the protests, saying, “I think that President Obama is behind it, because his people are certainly behind it.”

"It started off being a surreal experience, you know. You wake up and you're in the White House." -@POTUS on the first days as President pic.twitter.com/fSw6uu1tPs

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) February 28, 2017

He added that he thinks Obama loyalists are also behind White House leaks.

Trump concedes, “I also understand that’s politics. And in terms of him being behind things, that’s politics. And it will probably continue.”

He said he’s not surprised, saying “I’m changing things that (Obama) wanted to do.” Trump said he’s tougher than Obama in terms of his efforts to deport anyone living in the country illegally.

How would @POTUS grade himself?
Effort: A+
Messaging: C or C+
Achievement: A pic.twitter.com/2Pm0SxY71h

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) February 28, 2017

‘Major leak process’

Mr Trump also denied that there’s a “major leak process” at the White House following reports that White House press secretary Sean Spicer targeted leaks from his own staff.

In the same interview, Mr Trump responded to a Politico report that said Spicer convened an “emergency meeting” after details of a planning meeting got out, and conducted a “phone check” to prove they hadn’t been leaking information.

He said he “would have handled it differently than Sean. But Sean handles it his way and I’m OK with it.”

Mr Trump said: “Sean Spicer is a fine human being,” but adds, “I would have gone one-on-one with different people.”

Mr Trump also White House officials have “sort of ideas” about who may have leaked information, adding that “we have people from other campaigns, we have people from other governments.”

Trump’s Congress speech a chance to reset

Mr Trump will later today go before Congress to give a speech that will be closely watched for details of his plans for the economy and whether he can strike a more conciliatory tone.

World financial markets will be scrutinising the 1pm (AEDT) address in the House of Representatives for specifics of how the Republican president aims to make good on promises to tackle tax reform, boost infrastructure spending and simplify business regulations.

White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election and divided in the early days of his presidency.

You can follow live coverage of the speech online from noon.

AP/Reuters