Trump touts retired general as potential defense secretary

Bedminister : US President-elect Donald Trump praised James Mattis as a potential defense secretary Sunday, calling the retired military commander a "true general's general" as he prepared to meet another batch of possible cabinet members at his New Jersey golf club.

Trump's recent choices for other key posts -- attorney general, national security adviser and chief White House strategist -- have come under fire on civil rights grounds from Democrats and other critics.

But Trump has also moved to mend fences with moderate Republicans as he goes about building a new administration, interviewing one-time foe Mitt Romney for secretary of state, and inviting his ousted transition chief Chris Christie for a sit-down Sunday at his Trump National Golf Club.

He and Vice President-elect Mike Pence began their day attending a Sunday service at a Presbyterian church in the New Jersey countryside.

But the early-rising Trump was on Twitter before that, attacking the cast of hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" as rude, and "Saturday Night Live," the late-night satirical show that mercilessly lampoons him, as "not funny at all."

Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that Melania Trump and son Barron will remain in New York, rather than live in the White House.

Jason Miller, a Trump spokesman, would not confirm the report, but told reporters that "there's obviously sensitivity to pulling their 10-year-old out of school in the middle of the school year. A more formal statement will be coming."