US President Barack Obama admitted Monday that he still has concerns about Donald Trump but was comforted that his successor appears pragmatic rather than ideological.

US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump shake hands during a transition planning meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington,DC.

“I don’t think he is ideological. I think ultimately he is pragmatic in that way,” Obama told reporters at his first news conference since the Republican billionaire won last week’s presidential election.

“And that can serve him well as long as he’s got good people around him and he has a clear sense of direction,” he continued.

“Do I have concerns? Absolutely. Of course, I have concerns. He and I differ on a whole bunch of issues. But the federal government and our democracy is not a speedboat — it’s an ocean liner.”