5 World Reactions to U.S. Election Results
As U.S. residents waited anxiously for answers on election night, people around the world bit their nails along with them. The world's opinions about the candidates leading up to the election were as divided as the opinions of Americans. Crowds gathered around their television sets and attended public viewing events in different countries, some to cheer for Trump, and some to root for Hillary. But one thing everyone could agree on was that last night's election result is likely to bear a significant impact on the lives of people around the world. Below, see how people in five countries watched election results roll in and how they reacted to Donald Trump being elected as the 45th president of the U.S.
Donald Trump's stunning performance in the U.S. presidential election triggered shock and angst in Asia, where observers fretted over the implications for everything, including trade, human rights, and climate change reaction. China, in particular, was mentioned often during the campaign.
The Iraqi soldiers above were photographed while resting from the ongoing military operation to retake Mosul, an Islamic State stronghold. Launched in mid-October, the U.S.-backed initiative to recapture the second-largest city in the country has been described as one of the biggest operations since the U.S. invasion in 2003. Reports have been flooding in of ISIS torturing civilians and heavy fire being exchanged during this offensive. The United Nations estimates up to 1 million refugees could be fleeing the violence, including Yazidi refugees who are hiding out in Kurdish territories.
Following Trump's racial attacks and threats to withhold remittances wired from the U.S. to Mexico to fund a border wall, Hillary Clinton's lead over Trump was estimated at 54 points prior to the election. The Mexican peso has been reactive to Trump's rhetoric during his campaign and its already-fragile economy is hinging on Trump's promise to renegotiate the NAFTA agreement.
Top image: Muslim girls watching a mobile device while attending a 2016 U.S. presidential election party in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov. 9, 2016.
