The long-anticipated U.S. general election was decided in the final hours of Nov. 8 as ballot counts totaled in to a resounding victory for Republican Party candidate Donald Trump.
In his victory speech, Trump thanked his supporters and congratulated Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton “on a very, very hard-fought campaign.” He spoke of a “project of national growth and renewal” that would come with his entry to the White House.
“As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country,” Trump said.
Clinton won the popular vote with 59,319,829 votes to Trump’s 59,149,210, but the populist Republican candidate won far more electoral votes, giving him the presidency.
At the same time, the Republican Party has maintained majorities in both the American Senate and the House of Representatives, giving it broad powers to pass laws and make policy.
‘National Growth and Renewal’
Trump ran on a populist platform that appealed to American nationalist issues and conservatism against heavy opposition from other politicians, including the Republican party establishment, as well as academia and media.
Throughout his campaign, Trump made great efforts to connect directly with voters and held many rallies across recession-hit communities.
He won the popular vote in 33 of the nation’s 50 states, including the entire American South and much of the Midwest. New York and California remained Democrat as in previous elections, and Clinton won her home state of Illinois.
The New York businessman prevailed in Florida and Ohio, their combined electoral votes giving him a decisive edge over Clinton.
In keeping with his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again,” Trump placed emphasis on growth and development in cooperation with the rest of the world.
“We have a great economic plan. We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world,” Trump said. “We will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us. We will be.”
Reverberations have already been felt. Asian stock markets were affected particularly quickly, though they rebounded in the morning of Nov. 9.
In Europe, where Trump’s unexpected victory brought shock and uncertainty. Some officials expressed concern for what a Trump presidency might mean for the EU, while nationalist politicians offered solidarity. Leading officials called for cooperation and stressed shared values.
“Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defense,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said in an official statement.
(NTD Television)
Featured image: Republican presidential elect Donald Trump (L) waves next to his wife Melania Trump after he spoke during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016. Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images