Donald Trump delivered a defense-themed speech in battleground North Carolina on Thursday night, telling the crowd Hillary Clinton wants to have "virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most extreme and dangerous places in the world."

Trump brought a dozen veterans on stage with him at the rally in Selma. He promised his administration would "suspend the Syrian Refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

He also insinuated that classified information had been stolen as a result of Clinton's use of a private email server. "Hillary thought nothing of putting classified information on her illegal server, which our enemies have now hacked," he told the crowd.

US POOL

1. Donald Trump walking to stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"Under the failed leadership of Hillary - look, talk about leadership, what leadership? I don't want to use the word in the same sentence - of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, ISIS has become a clear and present danger to Europe and the United States. After all of the sacrifice our soldiers have made, Clinton and Obama pulled out the troops on a public timetable giving rise to ISIS, they called it the big vacuum that was created, and handing Iraq over to the ISIS killers and thugs. Now ISIS is on a campaign of genocide in the Middle East, torturing, drowning, burning people alive, chopping off their heads."

AP TELEVISION

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

3. Various cuts of audience

US POOL

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"We've seen the bloodshed in the attacks in Orlando, San Bernardino, and the recent bomb plot in New York and New Jersey. Yet as we send brave men and women overseas to fight terrorists in the Middle East, Hillary Clinton wants to fling our borders wide open, allowing those same terrorists to infiltrate our country by the thousands. Obama and Clinton are allowing thousands and thousands to come into our country. Hillary wants a 550 percent increase in Syrian refugees and virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most dangerous places in the world to pour into our country, unthinkable. A Trump administration will suspend the Syrian refugee programme and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

AP TELEVISION

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

5. Tight of audience listening

US POOL

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"Service members here in North Carolina have risked their lives to acquire classified intelligence to protect our country. Hillary thought nothing of putting classified information on her illegal server, which our enemies have now hacked."

7 . Trump walking off stage

Donald Trump delivered a defense-themed speech in battleground North Carolina on Thursday night, telling the crowd Hillary Clinton wants to have "virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most extreme and dangerous places in the world."

Trump brought a dozen veterans on stage with him at the rally in Selma. He promised his administration would "suspend the Syrian Refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

He also insinuated that classified information had been stolen as a result of Clinton's use of a private email server. "Hillary thought nothing of putting classified information on her illegal server, which our enemies have now hacked," he told the crowd.

POOL

1. Donald Trump walking to stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"Under the failed leadership of Hillary - look, talk about leadership, what leadership? I don't want to use the word in the same sentence - of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, ISIS has become a clear and present danger to Europe and the United States. After all of the sacrifice our soldiers have made, Clinton pulled out the troops on a public time table giving rise to ISIS, they called it the big vacuum that was created, and handing Iraq over to the ISIS killers and thugs. Now ISIS is on a campaign of genocide in the middle east, torturing, drowning, burning people alive, chopping off their heads."

AP TELEVISION

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

3. Various cuts of audience

POOL

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"We've seen the bloodshed in the attacks in Orlando, San Bernardino, and the recent bomb plot in New York and New Jersey. Yet as we send brace men and women overseas to fight terrorists in the Middle East, Hillary Clinton wants to fling our borders wide open, allowing those same terrorists to infiltrate our country by the thousands. Obama and Clinton are allowing thousands and thousands to come into our country. Hillary wants a 550 percent increase in Syrian refugees and virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most dangerous places in the world to pour into our country, unthinkable. A Trump administration will suspend the Syrian refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

AP TELEVISION

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

5. Tight of audience listening

POOL

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"Service members here in North Carolina have risked their lives to acquire classified intelligence to protect our country. Hillary thought nothing of putting classified information on her illegal server, which our enemies have now hacked."

7 . Trump walking off stage

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus066239

Donald Trump delivered a defense-themed speech in battleground North Carolina on Thursday night, telling the crowd Hillary Clinton wants to have "virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most extreme and dangerous places in the world."

Trump brought a dozen veterans on stage with him at the rally in Selma. He promised his administration would "suspend the Syrian Refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

He also insinuated that classified information had been stolen as a result of Clinton's use of a private email server. "Hillary thought nothing of putting classified information on her illegal server, which our enemies have now hacked," he told the crowd.

POOL

Selma, North Carolina - 3 November 2016

+++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"Under the failed leadership of Hillary - look, talk about leadership, what leadership? I don't want to use the word in the same sentence - of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, ISIS has become a clear and present danger to Europe and the United States. After all of the sacrifice our soldiers have made, Clinton pulled out the troops on a public time table giving rise to ISIS, they called it the big vacuum that was created, and handing Iraq over to the ISIS killers and thugs. Now ISIS is on a campaign of genocide in the middle east, torturing, drowning, burning people alive, chopping off their heads."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Nominee:

"We've seen the bloodshed in the attacks in Orlando, San Bernardino, and the recent bomb plot in New York and New Jersey. Yet as we send brace men and women overseas to fight terrorists in the Middle East, Hillary Clinton wants to fling our borders wide open, allowing those same terrorists to infiltrate our country by the thousands. Obama and Clinton are allowing thousands and thousands to come into our country. Hillary wants a 550 percent increase in Syrian refugees and virtually unlimited immigration from some of the most dangerous places in the world to pour into our country, unthinkable. A Trump administration will suspend the Syrian refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

Republican National Committee officials on Monday said that although US President-elect Donald Trump did not win the popular vote, he "won huge" by "playing the game" in battleground states.

"In the battleground states and in those 13 states, I mean 9 of the 13 states where the action was, Mr. Trump's message and his campaign were resoundingly successful," said RNC Chief Strategist Sean Spicer.

Trump on Sunday named Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff, along with flame-throwing media executive Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist.

The position puts Priebus at the power center of the new Trump administration.

Washington DC - 14 November, 2016

1. News conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

(Reporter: Trump did not win the national vote, did not win the popular vote. We're talking about a certain question about expectations, about sort of what we learned after the results of Tuesday.)

"I think electorally he did. He won huge. The chairman has called it a landslide and I think in terms of not just where it ended up but where people thought it was going, including the Clinton campaign, I think. And again you play the game where it is, right? And in the battleground states and in those 13 states, I mean 9 of the 13 states where the action was, Mr. Trump's message and his campaign, were resoundingly successful."

3. Wide news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

"I think Reince (Preibus) addressed that this morning where he views his role as a lot of the day-to-day, making things move and Steve is going to focus a lot more on the messaging and the big picture stuff. And look, over the last three months it's been a phenomenal partnership. And that's part of the model that they worked on, is 'hey this worked really well the last three months. Let's continue this forward to make sure that we can do this on behalf of the entire government and the people and implement this agenda."

5. Mid cameras

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

"Look, the RNC will have an election for its chairman. And Chairman Preibus and President-elect Trump will have an impact on who that chairman is, as tradition has always been the case, who that chairman is. But I think that they've been wildly impressed with the operation and unequivocally already want to make sure that it's maintained."

7. Mid people seated

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Katie Walsh, Chief of Staff Republican National Committee:

"What Reince did was build a structure for all candidates on the Republican side of the aisle which very different than what we saw Democrats do the last two cycles. Obviously President Obama built a very successful (campaign) operation for President Obama. Hillary Clinton I think tried to build off that. And I think what we saw is that you can't translate a machine built for another candidate to try and sell a different candidate and have success."

9. Wide end of news conference

In a news conference Monday, Republican National Committee officials acknowledged that although President-elect Donald Trump did not win the popular vote, they say he won 'huge' by 'playing the game' in battleground states.

"He won huge," said RNC Chief Strategist Sean Spicer. "And again, you play the game where it is, right? And in the battleground states and in those 13 states, I mean 9 of the 13 states where the action was, Mr. Trump's message and his campaign were resoundingly successful."

Sunday President-elect Donald Trump named RNC Chair Reince Priebus as his chief of staff, along with flame-throwing media executive Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist.

The position puts Priebus at the power center of the new Trump administration.

Washington - November 14, 2016

1. Mid news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist & Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

(Reporter question: "Trump did not win the national vote, did not win the popular vote. We're talking about a certain question about expectations about sort of what we learned after the results of Tuesday.") (Spicer) "I think electorally he did. He won huge. The chairman has called it a landslide and I think in terms of not just where it ended up but where people thought it was going, including the Clinton campaign, I think. And again you play the game where it is, right? And in the battleground states and in those 13 states, I mean 9 of the 13 states where the action was, Mr. Trump's message and his campaign were resoundingly successful."

3. Wide news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist & Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

"I think Reince (Preibus) addressed that this morning where he views his role as a lot of the day-to-day making things move and Steve is going to focus a lot more on the messaging and the big picture stuff. And look, over the last three months it's been a phenomenal partnership. And that's part of the model that they worked on, is 'hey this worked really well the last three months. Let's continue this forward to make sure that we can do this on behalf of the entire government and the people and implement this agenda."

5. Mid media cameras

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist & Communications Director, Republican National Committee:

"Look the RNC will have an election for its chairman. And Chairman Preibus and President-elect Trump will have an impact on who that chairman is, as tradition has always been the case, who that chairman is. But I think that they've been wildly impressed by the operation and unequivocally already want to make sure that it's maintained."

7. Mid people seated

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Katie Walsh, Chief of Staff Republican National Committee:

"What Reince did was build a structure for all candidates on the Republican side of the aisle which very different than what we saw Democrats do the last two cycles. Obviously President Obama built a very successful campaign operation for President Obama. Hillary Clinton I think tried to build off that. And I think what we saw is that you can't translate a machine built for another candidate to try and sell a different candidate and have success."

9. Wide end of news conference

Cubans reacted with stunned disbelief that Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States, seeing the Republican candidate as a leader who could roll back gains made in normalizing relations between the two Cold War antagonists and potentially threaten the fragile economic gains made since the process began in 2014.

Residents in Havana gathered in their homes and along the iconic seaside Malecon boulevard to monitor the election returns, becoming increasingly concerned as Democrat Hillary Clinton lost state after state as the returns came in throughout the night.

Trump promised Cuban Americans in Miami last weekend he would reverse President Obama's executive orders relaxing travel and trade restrictions, and would enforce the trade embargo if the Castro Government doesn't make major political changes to the country's socialist system.

That would be a non-starter for the Cuban Government, which would indicate the possibility of a contentious future for U.S.-Cuba relations.

The opening to Cuba has sparked a tourism boom on the island, and increased interest in investments by U.S. companies, both now in jeopardy under a Trump administration.

Havana - 9 November 2016

1. Various of Cuban family watching election returns

2. Cuban and American flags hanging from walls

3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Yasmani Navea, Havana resident:

"It's something that I don't understand, it's a problem for the whole world because if he (Trump) is president and does the things he said he was going to do, the whole world will suffer."

4. US flag waving at US embassy in Havana

5. Seal and photo Barack Obama at US embassy

6. Exterior of US embassy

7. Pablo Cruz using IMO (Wi Fi Hotspot) to talk to daughter in US, inside car

8. Close up of daughter on screen of phone

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Pablo Cruz, Havana resident:

"That Trump, you might as well cut your veins."

10. People at street corners

11 . Mid man with US flag shirt

12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Danay Telles, Havana resident:

"They (the US) can't change the laws of our country, nor can Trump. We are a socialist country and they are capitalists, one thing has nothing to do with the other. The only ugly thing about it all is his opinion about reversing things."

13. Various people on the Malecon

14. Various musicians playing on the Malecon

LEAD IN:

Differing opinions in Syria about Donald Trump's upcoming presidency highlight the divisions between Damascus and Aleppo.

STORY-LINE:

The iconic Souq Al-Hamidiyah is one of the main shopping areas in the Syrian capital Damascus. There are few signs of war here - it looks in 2017 much like it did before the Syrian Civil War began in 2011.

The Syrian regime has retained control of Damascus, sparing it much of the destruction that has been visited upon the country's other metropolis, Aleppo.

Donald Trump's impending presidency could impact on this country that has effectively been the site of a six year proxy war between Russia and the West.

Disappointed with Barack Obama's handling of the Syrian crisis, some locals hope the new president could have a positive impact on Syria.

"Based on statements, the newspapers and journalism coming out of the US and Britain, Trump's administration will play a positive role in changing the situation in Syria and in cooperation with Russia in fighting terrorists and Daesh," believes retired engineer Marwan Ayesh.

In Aleppo opinions are varied. Most of the city's infrastructure has been destroyed and, worn down by war, many residents have little hope of change on the horizon.

"Based on past experiences of former American presidents, nothing will happen for this country or other countries, particularly for Arabs. They (American presidents) are always allies of Israel and work for the interest of Israel. So I don't expect much, but we hope," says retired vet Mohammed Otari.

While some believe that Trump's close relationship with Israel will come at the expense of Syria, they hope that Trump's cooperation with Russia, one of the main backers of President Assad, might help speed up a solution. Some also see Trump as committed to fighting the terrorism that is blighting Syria and the region.

"We hope that American president Trump will be more realistic and frank and fight terrorism in Syria and outside Syria. We in Syria have suffered so much destruction and were harmed from terrorism, as you see. We hope that he will be better and will be authentic in the fight against terrorism not only in words but in actions," says merchant Abdul-Salam Karazeh.

Trump has raised the possibility of a broad new US partnership with Vladimir Putin's increasingly authoritarian Russia and has even hinted at aligning with Assad, which would amount to a dramatic reversal from years of the Obama administration's calls for Assad's removal. Russia's intervention since September 2015 has dramatically shored up Assad's position.

Syria is the foremost test of Trump's promise of a return to a hard-headed realpolitik and could quickly show whether America is truly abandoning democracy promotion abroad.

Political analyst Alaa Asfari believes Trump is motivated by domestic concerns.

"Trump's priority is firstly to combat extremism in America. He is concerned that terrorism is not exported and that all terrorists who are fighting now in Syria don't go to Europe and from there to his country," he says.

Widespread evidence of torture, chemical weapons attacks and other war crimes by Assad's forces made a partnership unfeasible for Obama and most of America's foreign policy establishment.

But the US and its coalition of over 50 countries fighting the Islamic State need a partner on the ground capable of reclaiming and holding territory.

Trump has said Assad may be "bad", but the rebels fighting to topple him "could be worse", while Assad recently suggested Trump could be a "natural ally" for Syria.

++EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: This material was shot by an AP Television contractor working within Syrian government media guidelines.++

AP Television

Damascus, Syria - 16 January 2017

1. Various of Souq Al-Hamidiyah

2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan Ayesh, 61 year-old retired engineer:

"Based on statements, the newspapers and journalism coming out of the US and Britain, Trump's administration will play a positive role in changing the situation in Syria and in cooperation with Russia in fighting terrorists and Daesh. It isn't the president himself who makes the decisions, it is the organisations around him who do that."

AP Television

Aleppo, Syria - 19 January 2017

3. Various of destruction in central Aleppo

4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Otari, 60 year old retired vet:

"Based on past experiences of former American presidents, nothing will happen for this country or other countries, particularly for Arabs. They (American presidents) are always allies of Israel and work for the interest of Israel. So I don't expect much, but we hope."

5. Various of destroyed buildings

6. Wide of people walking through street wreckage

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul-Salam Karazeh, 60 year-old food products merchant:

"We hope that American president Trump will be more realistic and frank and fight terrorism in Syria and outside Syria. We in Syria have suffered so much destruction and were harmed from terrorism, as you see. We hope that he will be better and will be authentic in the fight against terrorism not only in words but in actions."

8. Various of destroyed buildings

AP Television

Damascus, Syria - 16 January 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Alaa Asfari, political analyst :

"I think Trump is not interested in who is head of the Syrian state. Trump's priority is firstly to combat extremism in America. Obama intervened and tried to help many of the terrorists while Trump says that he will not support them and will not support other countries that back terrorism in Syria. He (Trump) is concerned that terrorism is not exported and that all terrorists who are fighting now in Syria don't go to Europe and from there to his country. Therefore there is some kind of a vision that could be positive and help Syria regarding comprehensive calm in the country."

AP Television

Aleppo, Syria - 19 January 2017

10. Boys filming destruction

11. Pull focus smartphone filming destruction

12. Boys walking past wreckage

Sen. Bernie Sanders says health care is a "human right" and that it should not be "just a privilege for the wealthy."

Sanders was speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill about President-elect Donald Trump's pick for health secretary, Tom Price.

"Unfortunately, the legislation that is supported by Rep. Price, who is Mr. Trump's nominee to be head of HHS, would increase by 18 million the number of uninsured Americans the first year that his plan would be implemented," Sanders said.

Sanders and other senators are concerned that Price will rip up President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law if the Senate confirms the Georgia Republican to be health secretary in the Trump's administration.

Price's Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin Wednesday, two days before Trump takes office.

Washington - 17 January 2017

+++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"I believe that health care is a human right, that all people, it is not just a privilege for the wealthy. Number two everybody understands that when we talk about the crisis in health care we are also talking about the crisis of the high cost in prescription drugs. Once again, here in the United States, at a time when the pharmaceutical industry are making tens of tens of billions of dollars every single year, we pay again by far the highest prices in the world for the medicine that we use. The result of that is that one out of every five Americans who leaves a doctor's office with a prescription cannot afford to fill that prescription. That's nuts. So right now despite the gains of the Affordable Care Act, where some twenty million more people now have insurance, we still have 28 million people who have no health insurance. So it seems to me pretty clearly that our job as a government is to guarantee health care to all people in a cost effective way, to take on the pharmaceutical industry and to take on the cost of prescription drugs."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"Unfortunately, the legislation that is supported by Rep. Price, who is Mr. Trump's nominee to be head of HHS, would increase by 18 million the number of uninsured Americans the first year that his plan would be implemented."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"If Mr. Trump is serious about taking on Pharma, if Mr. Trump is serious about having Medicare do what every other government from around the world does, and that is to negotiate prescription drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry, we are gonna have very shortly, very significant legislation to do just that and I would hope that Mr. Trump would join us and support that legislation."

Sen. Bernie Sanders says health care is a "human right" and that it should not be "just a privilege for the wealthy."

Sanders was speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill about President-elect Donald Trump's pick for health secretary, Tom Price.

"Unfortunately, the legislation that is supported by Rep. Price, who is Mr. Trump's nominee to be head of HHS, would increase by 18 million the number of uninsured Americans the first year that his plan would be implemented," Sanders said.

Sanders and other senators are concerned that Price will rip up President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law if the Senate confirms the Georgia Republican to be health secretary in the Trump's administration.

Price's Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin Wednesday, two days before Trump takes office.

Washington - 17 January 2017

1. Sen. Bernie Sanders walking to reporters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"I believe that health care is a human right, that all people, it is not just a privilege for the wealthy. Number two everybody understands that when we talk about the crisis in health care we are also talking about the crisis of the high cost in prescription drugs. Once again, here in the United States, at a time when the pharmaceutical industry are making tens of tens of billions of dollars every single year, we pay again by far the highest prices in the world for the medicine that we use. The result of that is that one out of every five Americans who leaves a doctor's office with a prescription cannot afford to fill that prescription. That's nuts. So right now despite the gains of the Affordable Care Act, where some twenty million more people now have insurance, we still have 28 million people who have no health insurance. So it seems to me pretty clearly that our job as a government is to guarantee health care to all people in a cost effective way, to take on the pharmaceutical industry and to take on the cost of prescription drugs."

3. Cut of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"Unfortunately, the legislation that is supported by Rep. Price, who is Mr. Trump's nominee to be head of HHS, would increase by 18 million the number of uninsured Americans the first year that his plan would be implemented."

5. Wide of Sanders

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont:

"If Mr. Trump is serious about taking on Pharma, if Mr. Trump is serious about having Medicare do what every other government from around the world does, and that is to negotiate prescription drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry, we are gonna have very shortly, very significant legislation to do just that and I would hope that Mr. Trump would join us and support that legislation."

7. Sanders walking away

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus045231

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump blasted the Obama administration on its relationship with Iran and its handling of the Islamic State group.

He made a campaign stop in Biloxi, Mississippi Saturday night, and mentioned Iranian protesters who damaged the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran earlier, in response to Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

But Trump pointed to oil as the reason for the inflicted damage.

"Now, what that is, is Iran wants to take over Saudi Arabia. They always have. They want the oil, OK? They've always wanted that."

Trump also blamed both Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama for the rise of the Islamic State group.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus045231

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump blasted the Obama administration on its relationship with Iran and its handling of the Islamic State group.

He made a campaign stop in Biloxi, Mississippi Saturday night, and mentioned Iranian protesters who damaged the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran earlier, in response to Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

But Trump pointed to oil as the reason for the inflicted damage.

"Now, what that is, is Iran wants to take over Saudi Arabia. They always have. They want the oil, OK? They've always wanted that."

Trump also blamed both Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama for the rise of the Islamic State group.

POOL

Biloxi, Mississippi - 2 January 2016

1. Wide of Donald Trump walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Candidate:

"Remember this, I'm pretty good at signals, and I see a lot of things happening. One thing I see out there just happened today in Tehran. They're burning down the Saudi Embassy, you see that? Now, what that is is Iran wants to take over Saudi Arabia. They always have. They want the oil, OK? They've always wanted that."

3. Wide cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Candidate:

"They (Iran) have a bunch of dishonest people. They've created ISIS. Hillary Clinton created ISIS with Obama. (cheering) Created with Obama."

5. Wide cutaway

6. Trump walking off stage

In their first show of unity following a divisive presidential election, President Barack Obama and President-elect Trump met at the White House Thursday to symbolically begin the transition of power.

In remarks following the meeting, Obama said he was 'encouraged' by his conversation with Trump, and said his administration is now "are going to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed then the country succeed."

For his part, Trump noted that the meeting lasted much longer than scheduled as it was the first time the two men had ever met face to face.

He called the conversation with Obama "a great honor," and said he looks forward to his counsel in the future.

From the White House, Trump travels to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican leaders of Congress.

Washington, DC - 10 November 2016

1. Wide shot of President Obama and President-elect Trump sitting in Oval Office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President:

"Well I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect Trump. It was wide ranging. We talked about some of organizational issues in setting up the White House. We talked about foreign policy. We talked about domestic policy. And as I said last night, my number one in the next coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful and I have been very encouraged by the interest by the President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. I believe that it is important for all regardless of party and regardless of political preferences to now come together, work together to deal with the many challenges we face. And in the meantime, Michelle has had a chance to meet the incoming First Lady and they had an excellent conversation with her as well. We want to make sure that they feel welcome as they prepare to make this transition. Most of all, I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President elect, that we now are going to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed then the country succeeds."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President-elect:

"Well thank you very much, President Obama. This was a meeting that was going to last for maybe ten or fifteen minutes and we just were going to get to know each other. We had never met each other. I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half and it could have, as far as I'm concerned, it could have gone on for a lot longer. We really, we discussed a lot of different situations, some wonderful and some difficulties. I very much look forward to dealing with the president in the future, including counsel. He's explained some of the difficulties, some of the high-flying assets and some of the really great things that have been achieved. So, Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you and I look forward to being with you many many more times in the future."

4. Meeting wraps up

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, DC - 10 November 2016

1. Wide shot of President Obama and President-elect Trump sitting in Oval Office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President:

"Well I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect Trump. It was wide ranging. We talked about some of organizational issues in setting up the White House. We talked about foreign policy. We talked about domestic policy. And as I sat last night, my number one in the next coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful and I have been very encouraged by the interest by the President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. I believe that it is important for all regardless of party and regardless of political preferences to now come together, work together to deal with the many challenges we face. And in the meantime, Michelle has had a chance to meet the incoming First Lady and they had an excellent conversation as well. We want to make sure they feel welcome as they prepare to make this transition. Most of all, I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President elect, that we now are going to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed then the country succeed."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President-elect:

"Well thank you very much, President Obama. This was a meeting that was going to last for maybe ten or fifteen minutes and we just were going to get to know each other. We had never met each other. I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half and it could have, as far as I'm concerned, it could have gone on for a lot longer. We really, we discussed a lot of different situations, some wonderful and some difficulties. I very much look forward to dealing with the president in the future, including counsel. He explained some of the difficulties, some of the high-flying assets and some of the really great things that have been achieved. So, Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you and I look forward to being with you many many more times in the future."

4. Meeting wraps up

STORYLINE:

In their first show of unity following a divisive presidential election, President Barack Obama and President-elect Trump met at the White House Thursday to symbolically begin the transition of power.

In remarks following the meeting, Obama said he was 'encouraged' by his conversation with Trump, and said his administration is now "are going to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed then the country succeed."

For his part, Trump noted that the meeting lasted much longer than scheduled as it was the first time the two men had ever met face to face.

He called the conversation with Obama "a great honor," and said he looks forward to his counsel in the future.

From the White House, Trump travels to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican leaders of Congress.

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In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - April 27, 2016

1. Donald Trump enters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"I'd like to talk today about how to develop a new foreign policy direction for our country. One that replaces randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy and chaos with peace. It's time to shake the rust off America's foreign policy. It's time to invite new voices and new visions into the fold -- something we have to do."

3. Wide of Trump at podium

POOL

Washington - April 27, 2016

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"The direction I will outline today will also return us to a timeless principle. My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security above all else. Has to be first. has to be. That will be the foundation of every single decision that I will make. America first will be the major and overriding theme of my administration."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Unfortunately, after the cold war, our foreign policy veered badly off course. We failed to develop a new vision for a new time. In fact, as time went on, our foreign policy began to make less and less sense. Logic was replaced with foolishness and arrogance which led to one foreign policy disaster after another. They just kept coming and coming. We went from mistakes in Iraq to Egypt to Libya to President Obama's line in the sand in Syria. Each of these actions have helped to throw the region into chaos and to give ISIS the space it needs to grow and prosper. Very bad. It all began with the dangerous idea that we could make western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interest in becoming a western democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans just killed -- lives, lives, lives wasted. Horribly wasted."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Secondly, our allies are not paying their fair share. I've been talking about this recently a lot. Our allies must contribute toward their financial, political and human costs. Have to do it. Of our tremendous security burden, but many of them are simply not doing so. They look at the United States as weak and forgiving and feel no obligation to honor their agreements with us. In NATO, for instance, only four of 28 other member countries besides America are spending the minimum required two percent of GDP on defense. "

In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - April 27, 2016

1. Donald Trump enters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Id like to talk today about how to develop a new foreign policy for our country. One that replaces randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy and chaos with peace. it's time to shake the rust of America's foreign policy. It's time to invite new voices and new visions into the fold -- something we have to do."

3. Wide of Trump at podium

POOL

Washington - April 27, 2016

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"The direction I will outline today will also return us to a timeless principle. Our foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security above all else. Has to be first. has to be. That will be the foundation of every single decision that I will make. America first will be the major and overriding theme of my administration."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Unfortunately, after the cold war, our foreign policy veered badly off course. We failed to develop a new vision for anew time. In fact, as time went on, our foreign policy began to make less and less sense. Logic was replaced with foolishness and arrogance which led to one foreign policy disaster after another. They just kept coming and coming. We went from mistakes in Iraq to Egypt to Libya to President Obama's line in the sand in Syria. Each of these actions have helped to throw the region into chaos and to give ISIS the space it needs to grow and prosper. Very bad. It all began with the dangerous idea that we could make western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interest in becoming a western democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans just killed -- lives, lives, lives wasted. Horribly Wasted."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Secondly, our allies are not paying their fair share. I've been talking about this recently a lot. Our allies must contribute toward their financial, political and human costs. Have to do it. Of our tremendous security burden, but many of them are simply not doing so. They look at the United States as weak and forgiving and feel no obligation to honor their agreements with us. And NATO, for instance, only four of 28 other member countries besides America are spending the minimum required two percent of GDP on defense. "

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus054265

In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus054265

In a rare policy speech, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to put American security "above all else" if elected president, warning allies they would be left to defend themselves if they don't "pay their fair share."

"'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.

Fresh off a sweep of five Northeast primaries, Trump sought to expand on foreign policy views that have lacked detail and worried experts in both parties.

He panned President Barack Obama's handling of crises in the Middle East, saying the current administration was leaving a legacy of "weakness, confusion and disarray."

"We've made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before," Trump said. He singled out Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the deadly attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Much of the speech was similar to his typical campaign remarks, but it was delivered it a much more sober, restrained manner.

Critics have said repeatedly that he has not shown an ability to act and sound "presidential."

Trump spoke to an invited audience of conservative-leaning national security experts, as well as some prominent foreign policy writers.

He read his speech off a teleprompter, a notable change for a candidate who has mocked his rivals for doing the same and typically speaks off the cuff.

He has declared: "If you're running for president you shouldn't be allowed to use a teleprompter."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - April 27, 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Id like to talk today about how to develop a new foreign policy for our country. One that replaces randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy and chaos with peace."

POOL

Washington - April 27, 2016

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"The direction I will outline today will also return us to a timeless principle. Our foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security above all else. Has to be first. has to be. That will be the foundation of every single decision that I will make."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"Unfortunately, after the cold war, our foreign policy veered badly off course. We failed to develop a new vision for anew time. In fact, as time went on, our foreign policy began to make less and less sense. Logic was replaced with foolishness and arrogance which led to one foreign policy disaster after another. They just kept coming and coming. We went from mistakes in Iraq to Egypt to Libya to President Obama's line in the sand in Syria.

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate

"It all began with the dangerous idea that we could make western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interest in becoming a western democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans just killed -- lives, lives, lives wasted. Horribly Wasted."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus067086

President-elect Donald Trump rejected claims of chaos and infighting straining his transition, declaring that he is running a "very organized process." His son Eric Trump said new appointments were likely to be announced Wednesday, though other aides suggested a slower process.

Trump has kept a low-profile since his stunning upset victory a week ago, letting advisers and allies to set the tone. He has wielded his Twitter account as his main tool for disputing talk of his transition as unwieldly and unprepared.

"It is going so smoothly," Trump wrote Wednesday.

Despite Trump's assurances, people close to the transition process described advisers "fighting for power" as the Republican plunges into the enormous task of setting up his administration. Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20.

New York - 16 November 2016

+++SOME SOTS SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES+++

1. Wide of Trump Tower

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Thomas, Associated Press:

"We're in midtown Manhattan outside of Trump Tower. This is where President-elect Donald Trump is holding his meetings iwth members of his transition team, advisers, who are helping him to get ready to set up the government when he is inaugurated next January."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Thomas, Associated Press:

"There are reports that there's chaos, that the transition is having some trouble getting off the ground. Kellyanne Conway who is Donald Trump's campaign manager, briefed reporters today and said that the process is going smoothly, that they're having good meetings, good exchange of ideas, the President-elect likes the list of potential appointees that he's seeing, that he's happy with the process. So right now the Trump team feels like they're taking an orderly, methodical process to getting a team in place so that they can hit the ground running in January after Donald Trump is formally inaugurated president."

+++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED BY VIDEO+++

4. Wide of Trump Tower, security guard passing by

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Thomas, Associated Press:

"Donald Trump on Tuesday night decided that he wanted to go out to dinner with family, the pool of reporters that follow him around were not notified and that led to a scramble last night of journalist trying to catch up with the president-elect, trying to find out where he is and it's quite unusual."

7. Wide of police officer inside Trump Tower entrance

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Thomas, Associated Press:

"There's been a tradition where there's a small pool of reporters who follow the president and help tell the public where he is. These are groups of reporters who have been with presidents for years and years and in many cases they've provided the world with very important information. When there was an assassination attempt on Ronald Regan the pool of journalists were there to report that. When John F Kennedy was assassinated, there was a pool of reporters who were with him and provided the first news of that infamous event. So it's important that there's a small group of journalists who are always with the president who can inform the world about everything he is doing."

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Thomas, Associated Press:

"Donald Trump had a meeting today with the leader of the Federalist Society which is a conservative legal organization and they discussed the Supreme Court vacancy. As you know, Antonin Scalia, the late justice passed away last year, and President Obama put forth Merrick Garland to fill that role. That nomination has not moved forward at all.One of Donald Trump's first decisions as president will be to name a Supreme Court justice for that vacancy left by Scalia and he met today with a leader of the Federalist Society to discuss potential names, the direction that he wants to take the court."

10. Wide of people walking in and out of Trump Tower

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday said Britain was looking forward to discussing future trade opportunities with the incoming US administration of Donald Trump, as it begins the process of negotiating its exit from the European Union.

Back in April, US President Barack Obama had warned the UK would be at the "back of the queue" in any trade deals with his country if it chose to leave the EU.

But president-elect Trump is expected to take a more sympathetic approach to the Brexit vote after having voiced his support for the UK to leave during his campaign.

UK POOL

London - 10 November 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Hammond, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer:

"Well certainly we look forward to working with the new US administration. We have very strong and close ties with the United States and as we begin the process of negotiating our exit from the European Union of course we will want to talk to the Americans about future opportunities for deepening our trade links with the United States."

Czech President Milos Zeman welcomed on Wednesday Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, saying he is "very delighted."

Zeman said that he appreciated Trump's campaign because his message was "clear," though sometimes "rough", and it avoided using political correctness.

Zeman said he hopes the relations between his country and the US will improve in the future and announced he invited Trump to Prague.

Zeman was critical of the administration of US President Barack Obama, slashing current US Ambassador to Prague Andrew Schapiro who criticised him for his decision to attend a Russian military parade on May 9 last year despite a European Union boycott over Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Zeman was among the several leaders in Central Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who endorsed Trump during the campaign.

Zeman, known for his strong anti-migrant rhetoric, said he shared Trump's views of migration and the fight against the Islamic extremism.

Prague - 9 November 2016

1. Czech Republic President Milos Zeman arriving at news conference.

2. Cutaway

3. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Milos Zeman, Czech Republic President:

"I am very delighted by the results of the US presidential election and I would like to sincerely congratulate Mr. Donald Trump. As you know I publicly endorsed this candidate on September 28. I was one of the few European politicians (to do so) and I agree with his opinions on migration and on fighting Islamic terrorism."

4. Cutaway

5. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Milos Zeman, Czech Republic President:

"I appreciate the way Donald Trump speaks publicly. His message is clear, sometimes rough but always comprehensive and he avoids what is called political correctness, which is in my opinion just a collection of empty phrases."

6. Cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Milos Zeman, Czech Republic President:

"I believe that the relations with the US will further improve and they won't be loaded by misunderstandings like the not entirely professional attitude of the current American Ambassador (Andrew) Schapiro who gives unrequested advice where the president should or should not travel."

8. Wide of the cameras

9. Zeman leaving

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday promised a smooth transition between his administration and that of President-elect Donald Trump.

Washington DC - 9 November 2016

1. US President Barack Obama and US Vice-President Joe Biden arriving

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President:

"I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night, about 3.30 in the morning I think it was, to congratulate him on winning the election and I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies. It is no secret that the President-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush's team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running. And one thing you realise quickly in this job is that the presidency and the vice-presidency is bigger than any of us. So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush's team set eight years ago and work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful transition for the President-elect."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday criticized the Iran nuclear deal and a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran calling it "bad" and "one sided".

Trump said US policy had destabilised the Middle East as he had warned would happen when he voiced opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003.

He said that now "Iran is taking over the Middle East".

Trump said the conditions of the prisoners' release were badly managed by the Obama administration and should have been negotiated years ago and not as the deal was struck.

Trump said Iran would become a "wealthy terror country" as a result of the deal and accused it of not respecting the United States.

This weekend Iran released four Americans in a prisoner swap after locking in last summer's nuclear deal and receiving some 100 billion US dollars in sanctions relief.

The announcements culminated a stunning few days of activity for the Obama administration and particularly Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the diplomatic outreach to Tehran at President Barack Obama's direction through years of slow-grinding negotiations.

Three of the American detainees who left Iran were Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati and pastor Saeed Abedini.

The fourth, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, opted to remain in Iran, officials said.

The Islamic Republic released the prisoners in exchange for pardons or charges dropped against seven Iranians - six of whom hold dual U.S. citizenship - serving time for or accused of sanctions violations in the United States.

A fifth American, student Matthew Trevithick, who had been detained in Iran for roughly 40 days, was released separately.

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday criticized the Iran nuclear deal and a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran calling it "bad" and "one sided".

Trump said US policy had destabilised the Middle East as he had warned would happen when he voiced opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003.

He said that now "Iran is taking over the Middle East".

Trump said the conditions of the prisoners' release were badly managed by the Obama administration and should have been negotiated years ago and not as the deal was struck.

Trump said Iran would become a "wealthy terror country" as a result of the deal and accused it of not respecting the United States.

This weekend Iran released four Americans in a prisoner swap after locking in last summer's nuclear deal and receiving some 100 billion US dollars in sanctions relief.

The announcements culminated a stunning few days of activity for the Obama administration and particularly Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the diplomatic outreach to Tehran at President Barack Obama's direction through years of slow-grinding negotiations.

Three of the American detainees who left Iran were Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati and pastor Saeed Abedini.

The fourth, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, opted to remain in Iran, officials said.

The Islamic Republic released the prisoners in exchange for pardons or charges dropped against seven Iranians - six of whom hold dual U.S. citizenship - serving time for or accused of sanctions violations in the United States.

A fifth American, student Matthew Trevithick, who had been detained in Iran for roughly 40 days, was released separately.

US POOL

Lynchburg, Virginia - 18 January 2016

1. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump arriving on stage

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"We want to take our country back. Our country is disappearing. You look at the kind of deals we make, you look at what's happening. Our country is going in the wrong direction, and so wrong, and it's got to be stopped, and it's got to be stopped fast. We can't go another four years. I know that maybe Hillary will be here, and if she is, you can play this back. We can't have another four years of Barack Obama. We can't have another four years of Hillary Clinton." (applause)

++BLACK++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"Iran is taking over the Middle East. We have totally destabilized the Middle East, and I said this in 2004, we have totally destabilized the Middle East. It's a disaster. And you look at this new Iran deal which took forever to get done. You look at how bad it is and how one-sided it is, you look at how one-sided this deal is. And yesterday I heard 'we're getting our hostages back'. See people call them prisoners, some people call them hostages, I don't care. So we're getting them back. And then I heard 'well wait a minute, we're paying a big price'. They getting seven back,we're getting actually four. They say five but the other one they can't find. He's in Iran. I tell you what, that's another thing we're going to be looking into. And we're getting four back, they're getting seven, they're getting 14 off the Interpol watch list. These are real bad customers. They're getting all sorts of advantages, including free market oil. They're getting unbelievable advantages. They're going to be an immensely wealthy country - and a wealthy terror country - and they're getting 150 billion dollars. So when our sailors were captured last week I said that's one of the saddest things I've seen when those young people were on their hands and knees, in a begging position with their hands up and thugs behind them with guns and then we talk like it's ok. It's not ok. It's lack of respect. We can't let that happen to this country. It's lack of respect and we're not going to let it happen to this country. We're going to be strong, we're going to be vigilant, we're going to have powerful borders and strong border. And look just what happened this morning - I don't know for any of you who've been reading the news or seeing the news - three people have just been kidnapped in Iraq because they see what the heck we pay 150 billion dollars for four people, three people just this morning, and this is going to take place all over. They should have come back as part of the deal three years ago when they started talking about the deal, not now, not now."