US President Barack Obama believes in the right of Americans to protest the election of Donald Trump in a non-violent manner, but wants people to hear the message that "we're Americans and patriots" before Democrats and Republicans, the White House says.
"It's important for us to remember, a day or two after the election, that we're Democrats and Republicans, but we're Americans and patriots first," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Thursday.
"And that's the message the president hopes that most people will hear."
Police put up security fences around US President-elect Donald Trump's new Washington hotel and a line of concrete blocks shielded New York's Trump Tower as students around the country staged a second day of protests over his election.
Trump, Obama meet at White House
Barack Obama and his successor Donald Trump held a 90-minute transition meeting in the Oval Office Thursday, with the outgoing president vowing his support after an 'excellent conversation.'
