Famous faces Lifestyle

You’re hired! Trump stuns the world

Written by Ben Blaschke

Depending on who you listen to, either America is about to be great again or the world is about to end after Donald Trump defied all odds to win the US Presidential election.

Listed as a $5 outsider in the final days before America cast its vote, with Hillary Clinton a hot $1.18 favorite, Trump performed a Houdini act reminiscent of Britain’s recent Brexit vote – surging to an early lead in the polls as a shocked world watched reality unfold.

Shortly after midnight in his home town of New York, the celebrity billionaire had confirmed his standing as the 45th President of the United States. By the time Clinton officially conceded, Trump’s Republican Party had surpassed the 270 seats needed with 276, had claimed the 51 seats needed for a majority in the Senate and soared past the 218 needed in the US House with 235.

The big question now is, what next? Financial markets around the world reacted almost immediately to the news, with Asian markets slumping alongside the London and other European stock markets. However, after an early fall, the US stock market showed signs of recovery after a surprisingly impressive victory speech.

“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division – have to get together,” he said. “To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.

“I will be President for all Americans and this is so important to me.”

The world looks on with baited breath.