Trump claims Russia hacking 'did not affect' US election

US President-elect Donald Trump claims has insisted again that alleged Russian hacking did not sway the US election in his favour.

It follows a briefing on an intelligence report that blamed Vladimir Putin for a cyber campaign to keep Democrat Hillary Clinton out of the White House, which has seen Trump face a new wave of flack over the allegations.

Although Trump still remains firm in his insistence that Russia did not target the US Democrat campaign to benefit his campaign, this appeared to be his first admission that Moscow hackers could have played a role.

Briefing

It comes as Trump met four top intelligence chiefs in preparation for his term as president which begins on 20 January.

Although he acknowledged that cyber-attacks by Russia, China and other countries threaten the US, he did not accept the spy chiefs' conclusions that Moscow staged an unprecedented attack on the US to influence the 2016 White House race.

I think that what is true, is that the Russians intended to meddle and they meddled. - US President Barack Obama

A new US intel report revealed that Russia hacked and leaked documents that aimed to boost Trump's campaign.

"While Russia, China, other countries, outside groups and people are consistently trying to break through the cyber infrastructure of our governmental institutions, businesses and organisations including the Democrat National Committee, there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election," Trump said in a statement.

Trump met the heads of the Directorate of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency in New York on their report into Moscow's alleged interference. 

Hacking

The declassified report from the director of national intelligence said Putin personally ordered a campaign of hacking and media manipulation to undermine the Democrat's candidate, Clinton.

She went from a strong lead to losing the 8 November election following the release of allegedly hacked emails.

"Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump," they said.

The report offered little new evidence on how US intelligence agencies reached their conclusion, and Russia has denied any election meddling.

President Obama has made a series of retaliatory measures against Russia following the US intel reports.

"I think that what is true, is that the Russians intended to meddle and they meddled," Obama said in excerpts of an interview set to air Sunday on ABC's This Week.

"One of the things I am concerned about is the degree to which we've seen a lot of commentary lately where there are Republicans or pundits or cable commentators who seem to have more confidence in Vladimir Putin than fellow Americans because those fellow Americans are Democrats. That cannot be."

Agencies contributed to this story.