This week has definitely been one of the most intense periods that the world has been a witness to — watching the USA elect its new president. Going against what the exit polls or any other projections suggested, the Republican candidate and real estate mogul with no prior government experience, Donald Trump has been elected as the 45th president of the US, leaving the world with raised brows.
Throughout the campaign, Trump’s stances and policies had been criticised for being racist, xenophobic and misogynist — but his win has left the world flabbergasted. When DC contacted Americans living in Chennai on how they see Trump’s win, disappointment was the majority’s answer, but many refused to comment on the issue. Here’s what few of the Americans living in the country, from different walks of life, have to say about Trump taking power!
Richard Verma, US Ambassador to India
The results are in. The polls are closed. American voters have voted, and the American people have spoken. With these votes, and with this voice, Americans have elected Donald Trump. We are here today, not to celebrate an individual winner, or to side with a particular candidate, but to celebrate the American democratic election process as a whole, to witness that process in action. While there were certainly many firsts in this very eventful and hard-fought election campaign, the end result is the same as it has been before: free and fair elections followed by acceptance and respect for the results.
Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, Red or Blue on the political map, this is something fundamental to our values and to our core as Americans. And it’s something, I’m sure, that can be appreciated by all of us here — from both the oldest democracy in the world, and the largest democracy in the world. The ties that bind our two countries together are built on our shared democratic values, and go beyond the friendship of the American President and the Indian Prime Minister. The US-India relationship is vitally important, it is bipartisan, and it is only growing stronger. Here’s to another four years of robust US-India dosti!
William Paul Cowan, Project manager, Gievos Workshop LLC.
We are in a soup. Ever since Trump has been leading in the election results, Asian markets have started crashing and my clients are already calling me panicking. This scenario combined with Narendra Modi, banning the use of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in the country on the same day — European and the US companies are freaking out about whether they can do business in India anymore. Trump wants to control how much technology companies can outsource to India, which is going to affect India hugely in terms of its economic potential. With this decision, America is taking the whole planet with it. America impeached Bill Clinton for cheating on his wife, now we have elected a president who has bragged about sexual assault. I feel like the extreme Hindu nationalists in India are going to use Trump’s victory as a fuel to light the fire bigger, giving power to more discriminatory policies in India. We’re going to lose our right to marry who we love, we’re going to lose women’s rights to have access to abortion — we’re going to lose everything America has worked for in the past 40 to 50 years.
Dr. Christopher Taylor Barry, surgeon
I was very shocked and it felt delusional in introspect as I had seen many newspapers projecting Clinton to be winning the elections. I am very surprised and disappointed. It shows that the majority of the Americans support Trump’s rhetoric and his policies and that’s very disappointing to me — and I’m glad I’m in India. Although India has its own extremists, I don’t think it’s that dangerous as it could get in America. America has shown that they don’t want a woman president; they don’t want policies that reflect what is really going on in the world. It’s a retreat to the white supremacy and I think it’s kind of a bad fantasy.
Rob Peck, Director of Client Services, O3MDirectional Marketing
With the announcement that Trump will be occupying the US’s highest office, I realised that a large percentage of Americans are invisible to me. I operate in a culturally-aware, progressive, and inclusive ecosystem.
That bubble was burst with the election of the orange-hued nightmare into the White House. I now realise that the majority of the nation does not share my ideals and vision for America. My bubble has been pierced with bigotry, racism, and prejudice. I’m certain the US will survive, and I suppose a personal benefit is that I now know who I don’t know.
Kollywood reacts to Election 2016
While all the celebs were shouting out for Narendra Modi’s bold and historic move of scraping off '500 and '1000 rupee notes, some bothered also to voice their opinion on how the presidential election turned out on social media. Siddharth seems to really saddened and shocked by the outcome.
Siddharth: Siddarth:
Hey America, you’re FIRED! #immigrants TrumpAmerica #Doomsday #HateWins #Shame #Misogyny #LGBT #AmericaSoWhite
Khushbhu:
If Trump wins America,then seriously God save the world..
Pranitha Subhash:
President Trump! Someone who was never a politician, is now the President of the most powerful country! Congratulations Donald J. Trump !!
Ram Gopal Varma:
All places Obama won last,Trump won now inspite of Obama campaigning against him thus proving he defeated Obama too apart from Hillary
Trisha
Congratulations Mr.President n God bless U America?? Twas an eventful morning indeed !!!
