US president-elect Donald Trump has defended his decision to select several retired generals for his cabinet.
"I like generals. I think generals are terrific, you know? They go through schools and they sort of end up at the top of the pyramid," he said in an interview with Fox News broadcast on Sunday. "And it's like a test. They passed the test of life ... And I like the three that I have very, very much."
Trump has chosen three retired generals for top jobs in his administration: James Mattis for secretary of defence, John Kelly for secretary of homeland security and Michael Flynn to be national security adviser.
He also said he's close to announcing his choice to be his secretary of state but didn't confirm reports that he's leaning toward ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson.
"He's much more than a business executive," Trump said of Tillerson. "He's a world-class player."
The selection has been criticised because Tillerson reportedly has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his extensive deal-making around the world on behalf of ExxonMobil.
In the Fox interview Trump also vowed to "clean" up and "speed" up government agencies, especially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"We're going to speed it up and, by the way, if somebody is not doing the right thing we're not going to approve," he said.
Trump repeated his pledge to pursue a 35-per-cent tax on the products of companies that leave the US, taking manufacturing jobs out of the country.
"I'm a big free trader, but it has to be fair," Trump said. "We're being stripped of our workers."
Trump also said his executives and his children would run his company after he takes office. He has scheduled a speech for Thursday in which he will provide details about the arrangement.
In the interview Trump said he had turned down billions of dollars in deals since becoming a candidate.
"I will tell you, running for president - the money I spent is peanuts compared to the money I won't make, and that's OK, because this is so important ... This is a calling."
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