Hillary supporters in dismay as Trump scores victory

Washington - Surprise, glee among Trump supporters

Dismay, sadness and disappointment engulfed Hillary Clinton supporters as Donald Trump scored a stunning victory in America's presidential election.
On Tuesday evening, thousands of people - mostly university students - descended on the White House in Washington to follow the results. As the evening wore on, the mood of the overwhelmingly pro-Clinton crowd grew increasingly despondent, and even hostile, as state after state was called in Trump's favour.
"It's beyond belief that someone like Donald Trump can even enter the election, let alone be elected," said Massachusetts native Mal Palmer. "I underestimated the mentality of the American people."
"I always believed that that America was a nation of morals, that believes in the equality of all people," he added. "Today was a wake-up call. Half of our country is still living in the 1800s in my opinion. I know for sure that certain principles and foundations that we thought were true are no more. People aren't going to have filters anymore..people are not afraid to say things that are offensive, as now the main leader of our country thinks it's okay to disrespect minority groups."
Another Clinton supporter, DC-native Lisa Anderson, said that she was "absolutely horrified" at the result.
"It hasn't sunk in. We're all in total disbelief," she said. "This is the most depressing day that I've ever experienced. I simply cannot believe what we've done as a country. Looking back, we should have picked another candidate."
"It's surprising, and a little scary," said New Yorker Ian Fisher, a local university student. "We didn't expect this to happen at all."
Surprise, glee among Trump supporters
Trump supporters in the crowd, however, were ecstatic - and surprised - as the prospect of his victory became clear over the course of the night.
"We did not think this was going to happen," said American University student Alex Geary. "After he won Ohio, our mood completely shifted. This is exciting to see. It's a change from the political machine towards a more grassroots, people-based system. I also believe in his conservative economics."
Geary added that he supports Trump because of his plans to support a conservative Supreme Court Judge to replace the now deceased Antonin Scalia, as well as formulate a new tax plan and do away with Obamacare.
"While Obamacare was planned as a way to decrease the costs for Americans across the board, it's increased it for some that can't afford that. It's an injustice," he said. "Trump will repeal and replace it with a universal health care system. I really support that."
Another young Trump supporter, Virginia native Alex Werkman, said he voted for Trump because he considered him unique among politicians - even Republicans - for being a Washington outsider.
"I like that he's veering away from the Bible-thumping social conservatism of Ted Cruz and other establishment politicians. That's a losing platform," he said. "Us as millennials, we represent a new generation of conservatism. We want to return to conservative economic principles; we want to return to conservative international relations."
Werkman added that he believes Trump will "bring people together as Americans" following his victory.
"It's important to keep in mind that there is no one truth. Nobody is right, nobody is wrong. We all grow up with our own worldviews and perspectives that shape the way we vote," he noted. "We're all Americans and we all want what's best for this country. What we think is best varies, but we all want the best - and he knows that."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

• Battle For White House