DONALD TRUMP has suggested he may lift the sanctions Barack Obama imposed on Russia in retaliation for its alleged interference in the US election.

The President-elect said he will probably maintain some of Obama's sanctions, but might change his mind if Moscow works with the US on battling terrorists and achieving other goals.

He told The Wall Street Journal: “If Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions?”

Trump also said he was open to meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin after his inauguration.

Obama imposed sanctions after US intelligence agencies warned Putin had ordered a hidden campaign to influence the election to favour Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump and his supporters have challenged the findings and the President-elect has fired a series of broadsides at US intelligence agencies.

In another signpost to future US foreign policy, Trump suggested the United States’ current refusal to recognise Taiwan's breakaway government in order to maintain good relations with China could be up for negotiation.

The Chinese government insists the “One China” policy is “the political foundation of Sino-US relations”.

However, when asked if he was committed to the policy, Trump responded: “Everything is under negotiation, including One China.”

Trump is also facing more trouble on the domestic front after he became embroiled in a row with an elected US civil rights campaigner.

Democrat Congressman John Lewis, a leading figure in the 1960s civil rights movement and the last surviving speaker from Martin Luther King’s March on Washington 50 years ago, questioned the validity of Trump’s election.

Lewis said he would not attend Trump's inauguration on Friday on the grounds that he did not see the Republican as a legitimate president.

"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton," he said.

Trump tweeted that Mr Lewis was "all talk" and should focus on his constituents.

But Lewis' supporters reacted with anger, saying he was a hero and icon.

Writing on Twitter, Trump said: "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!"

California Democrat Senator Kamala Harris retaliated, insisting: "John Lewis is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement who is fearless in the pursuit of justice and equality. He deserves better than this."