By Alex Moreno
The after-election frenzy has been a surprising and unpredictable spur of events. The aftermath of the election has shaken not only our nation but also the world.
Election night was a nail biter for all. The election results turned polling predictions upside-down and brought questions to the legitimacy of polling accuracy.
The Electoral College system, which requires a candidate to surpass 270 votes to win the election, resulted in Trump at 306 and Clinton at 232.
The total percentage of popular votes resulted in Clinton actually winning more votes than Trump. Clinton had 48.1 percent of votes and Trump only had 46.5 percent.
Events both at home and far away have been widely attributed, rightfully or wrongfully, to the ‘Trump Effect’.
The ‘Trump Effect’ has been cited as the result of foreign policy changes, foreign political leader appointments, hate-speech, racial discrimination, stocks rising or falling, companies inflating or deflating, and individuals rejoicing or fearing.
Trump has already had a post election sit down with President Obama. During the meeting Trump seemed respectful, reserved, and had an observable change in his demeanor. Obama offered his aid and expressed the need for a smooth transition of power.
The positive and productive meeting seemed a bit surprising, especially when thinking back to the controversial requests by Trump for Obama to release his birth certificate during Obama’s campaign.
In 2014, Trump tweeted, “Always remember, I was the one who got Obama to release his birth certificate, or whatever that was! Hilary couldn’t, McCain couldn’t.”
It seems as though Trump has quickly realized and adapted to the different demands of the campaign trail compared to those of the position of the Commander-in-Chief.
Trump has left America and the globe with many unknowns. Is he going to follow through with deporations, builiding a wall, putting Clinton in jail, banning and labeling muslims, dismanteling Obamacare, leaving NATO, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and possibly even using nuclear weapons?
Trump has had a heavy influence on the Stock Exchanges and numerous countries economies.
The Dow Jones stock future predictions plummeted almost 900 points throuhgout election night, but surprisingly climbed 257 points the next day. The Dow Jones has even broken 19,000 points for the first time, because of expected buisness-friendly regulatory policies.
The Mexican peso fell over 12 percent and hit an all-time record low against the U.S. dollar, following election day.
Trumps economic policies have had a heavy influence on governments reshaping their policies on trade, immigration, and defense.
Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, said, “For allies and adversaries alike, the election of Donald Trump represents the likely abandonment of a decades-old U.S. commitment to uphold the global order.”
European firms such as Deutsche Bank has seen their shares rise 17 percent, at one point, because of optimism stemming from their dated ties to Trump’s businesses.
The Justice Department is seeking a $14 billion settlement against Deutsche Bank, and many predict that Trump’s administration will go easy on the bank.
Israeli firm, Magal Security Systems, which has produced high-tech security barriers for the Gaza Strip and West Bank had a increase of up to 150 times higher trading rate than before the election results. Many are assuming these businesses could be tasked with building Trump’s wall, hence their 24 percent stock rise compared to their pre-election worth.
In India the rupee plummeted to a record low, with some naming Trump’s policies as the root of the deflation.
Some nations are attempting to capitalize on the newly elected president.
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, who in Sep. 2016 referred to Obama as a “son of a bitch” is now looking to gain favor under Trump. President Duterte appointed Jose Antonio, as his new trade envoy to the U.S. Antonio happens to be the real estate tycoon assisting in the production of the Trump Tower Manila in the Philippines.
Also, widespread reports of rises in bullying, harassment, racism, and intimidation of religious and national minorities have been reported across the U.S.
On Aug. 25 Clinton said, “Parents and teachers are already worrying about what they call the ‘Trump Effect.’ They report that bullying and harassment are on the rise in our schools, especially targeting students of color, Muslims and immigrants.”
There have even been reports of hate-speech incidents on Whatcom’s campus after the election.
Trump’s presidential election has a large bag of unknowns, which will greatly influence our nation, the world, and our futures. Who knows what will happen next?
