TRUMP WINS, rides wave of voter contempt for ruling class in D.C.
WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) – Donald Trump shocked the political establishment worldwide on election night, pulling several of the traditionally-Democrat states into the Republican column and riding to the presidency on a wave of voter contempt for the ruling class in Washington.
Trump, who will be 70 when he takes office, won the hotly contested rustbelt states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. Though unnecessary for the march to 270 Electoral College votes, Michigan and Minnesota will likely also be called for Trump.
Trump, though widely regarded as a successful businessman, nonetheless caused jitters in stock futures late Tuesday. Stocks were significantly lower at the opening of the New York Stock Exchange, but began to rebound early.
Trump will have an easier path to governing then did his two predecessors. Republicans kept control of both the House of Representatives and Senate, but it remains unclear how they will work with President Trump.
In fact, Trump has a tough hill to climb with the Republican establishment, which encouraged voters to, in some cases, not vote for Trump, and in others to vote for Clinton. Voters, however, rejected both of those paths to elect Trump. Trump also villified Republican leaders in Washington for not supporting him.
In a highly unusual move, Democrat Hillary Clinton did not make a concession speech last night. She reportedly called Trump to congratulate him and his supporters. At Clinton's campaign headquarters, campaign manager John Podesta took the podium.
He suggested several times that the votes were all not yet counted and told the crowd: "It's been a long night and a long campaign. ... We're not going to have anything more to say tonight."
Clinton reportedly scheduled a morning address.
Reuters reported world leaders were as shocked as Democrat voters on the outcome of the election.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Trump's win marked the end of the global era of peace – "Pax Americana" – implemented by the United States.
Mexico's peso dove on the uncertainty from the Trump win. His win was regarded as a repudiation of the open borders policies of both the Mexican government and President Barack Obama.
Trump also frequently criticized the Mexican government for allowing a flood of illegal immigrants to come across the southern U.S. border, and has insisted that Mexico "is going to pay for the wall" he plans to build.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Trump and touted the "strong and close" alliance of America and Great Britain.
Leaders on the other side of a burgeoning second Cold War also commented on Trump's election. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Trump a telegram congratulating him on his victory. Putin said he and Trump could develop constructive dialogue to benefit both countries.
"Putin expressed hope for joint work to restore Russian-American relations from their state of crisis, and also to address pressing international issues and search for effective responses to challenges concerning global security," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also spoke to the Trump victory, citing fears that Trump would destroy the nuclear agreement constructed by President Obama's administration, European countries and Iran. Trump made the destruction of the nuclear deal, which gave billions of dollars to the Iranian regime in exchange for hostages, a top selling point in his campaign.
Zarif urged the U.S. to remain a party to the nuclear deal.