November 8. 2016 was the day that Americans, and probably the rest of the world was shocked. For some it still hasn’t quite sunk in that Donald Trump was elected as President.
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Image: Trumps inauguration, courtesy of Mark Fitch flickr.com
Donald John Trump, now President Trump, is a businessman and television personality as well as currently being the 45th President of the United States.
Trump first publicly announced in interest for running for the political office back in 1987, he won two reform party presidential primaries in 2000 but withdrew his candidacy early on in the elections. In June 2015, he came back more prepared and launched his campaign for the 2016 Presidential elections. He became one of the front-runners among 17 other candidates in the Republican Party. When the numbers were whittled down, the final opponents decided to suspend their campaigns in May 2016.
In July 2016 Trump was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention along with Mike Pence, the Indiana governor. Trumps campaign received an unprecedented media coverages along with vast international attention.
It is believed that many of the statements made by Donald Trump at rallies, interview and on social media were controversial or untruthful.
Councillor Peter Box, 70, Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “Trump seemed to just be able to insult and lie to people, have sexual predator attributes, and it didn’t make a difference as people still supported him.
People voted for him because a feeling of alienation and rust belt, he was appealing, a demigod, and an easy vote. He was a business man unlike anyone else, even though he was bankrupt several times.”
Councillor David Jones, 62, Deputy Porfolio owner for economic growth & regeneration at Wakefield Council, said: “It would not have mattered if Trump murdered someone as they were that besotted by him and his cult personality.”
Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016, in a surprise victory against his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. From this win Trump because the oldest yet wealthiest person to assume presidency, the first without any experience prior military or government service. ![5440991648_fdc9db5b18_z](https://politicalopinionweb.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/5440991648_fdc9db5b18_z.jpg?w=1108)
Image: Donald Trump at a debate, courtesy of Gage Skidmore flickr.com
The president’s political stance, so far, on matters has been described by scholars, journalists and commentators as populist, protectionist and nationalist.
Some are still unsure if what Trump had said in his campaign to be true or false, as he has managed to persue with some of his outrageous promises.
Ben Ledgeway, 18, RAF Aircraft maintenance mechanic, said: “So far he has stuck to his words, by closing the borders to Muslim majority countries. And putting forward plans to build a wall along the United States and Mexican border.”
It has been said, and assumed by many, that one of the reasons that Trump was elected because the Americans were angry with the political class as they were not listening to their views or campaigning anything that would have benefitted them, which is similar reasons to why people from the United Kingdom voted in favour to leave the European Union.
Throughout Trumps campaign he had a slogan that implied that if you elected him that he could ‘Make America great again’. He believed that his policies would make America a better place to reside whereas people oppose this view.
Alison Rayne, 65, retiree, said: “I think he’s a wild card. He’s used to getting his own way in business, but politics is a different kettle of fish. In a couple of years people will be very disappointed in him.”
Donald Trump managed to win his presidency through 306 electoral votes, in comparison to the 232 votes for his opposition, Hillary Clinton. Even though this seems a convincing victory for Trump, he won four states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan by 1.2% or less. If these states had been won by Clinton, she would have won the Electoral College by a 307-231 margin.
Councillor Box, said: “I personally think that the Democrats should have picked a better candidate. I think that Clinton was the one that had the most issues with the public, including trust issues. Any other democrat would have won.
Although I still think Jo Biden would have made a great President as he was prepared for the role.”
One of the members from the Labour Party working for Wakefield Town Council had the pleasure of experiencing the American presidential elections first hand. He attended debates and meetings with the Democrats.
Councillor David Jones went to California in September [2016], and met a range of people. But he realised whilst over there that people wouldn’t admit to who they were supporting in the elections. This could have either be that they were ashamed and not wanting to be judged, or that they didn’t want their personal beliefs to be publicized.
Lindsey Vaughan, 51, Nurse Practitioner, said: “Donald Trump spoke his mind and mostly said what people thought but were too scared to say it for themselves.”
Jones also found that Trump was extremely confident in his debates, as whilst watching his body language, facial features, and his general mannerisms including interrupting was extremely different to that of Clintons. He believed that this worked in his favour as he knew how to win over the audiences through acting.
Councillor Jones, said: “When making speeches the podiums were too high at times for Clinton as it made her look physically small and Trump tall. It’s all about how you present yourself in front of an audience and how you carry yourself as it catches people’s eyes and attention.
Clinton was treading a new path, but she had other barriers in her way as she couldn’t bed herself properly into the role. Whereas Trump manipulated the role better.”
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Image: Hillary Clinton giving a speech, courtesy US Department State flickr.com
People from the United Kingdom are shocked at the variation in politics from the United Kingdom and the US. This is because when debates were televised people were shocked at how different they are from those in the UK, Trump was constantly interrupting Clinton and vice versa. At times is seemed more of an attack of characters between Trump and Clinton which drifted away from the policies they were campaigning for.
Natalie Worrell, 22, Assistant manager at Thomas the Bakers, said: “I thought it was pretty funny as the debates were completely different to what they are over here [in the United Kingdom], it seemed more of a personal disagreement between Trump and Clinton rather than concentrating on their campaigns.”
But not everybody enjoys American politics, as some believe that neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton are fit to have a role of such importance. There was many hiccups throughout both campaigns, as either candidate was dishing dirt on the other.
Donald Trump is someone you either like or hate. His brash personality and disregard for what anyone thinks of him is amendable, but it could also be interpreted as arrogant.
Lindsey Smith, 45, Practice Nurse, said: “Like Nigel Farage, he [Trump] is a public figure who people are interesting in, whether you like or dislike him he is very watchable. All of his speeches were interesting as again he used shock statements and tapped into the people of America who are fed up with not being listened to.”
Chris Porter, 28, Warehouse operative, said: “Watching Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was like deciding which finger to stick in a plug socket! Trump is a puppet on a string. He was not elected, he was selected by the global elite. The world is a ticking time bomb, ready to blow, and Trump just moved the clock hands closer.”
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Image: Donald Trump, pointing. Courtesy of Gage Skidmore flickr.com
It was wrote in the guardian that when the evidence for fake news during the presidential election campaign broke cover, the reaction was intriguing. A coalition of: Californian nerds, Macedonian teenagers, Russian leakers and American spies emerged to engage in an immediate digital post-mortem. From this global seminar one thing emerged – the Russians were clearly lying and more importantly so was Trump. Therefore from the evidence outing Trump as lying through his campaign, shows his regard for telling the truth, and more concerned with gaining the trust of his voters.
It is clear that Trump’s lies are the product of a mind that is unable to distinguish the border between fact and fantasy. Although lies can certainly be more swiftly spread, but also more swiftly exposed. A political lie is no longer sanctified by office and received as wisdom from on high.
Ian King, 49, HGV Driver, said: “The American [Presidential] elections is something that will probably never be repeated.”
Lindsey Smith, said: “He seems to be attempting to deliver on all of his promises, whether they are right is another matter, for example the wall separating the United States and Mexico and the travel bans he implemented. We will have to wait and see though, if anything it is a good wake up call to congress that Americans aren’t happy with what they have been doing.”
Wrote by Bethany Vaughan