Welp, it happened — Donald John Trump defied the odds, polls, projections, “rigged” votes and claimed victory in the United States presidential election.
To say that it’s shocking he managed to trump highly formidable and competent opponent Hillary Clinton is a gross understatement. The country has spoken, and they voted the Republican candidate to the White House despite the multiple scandals, blunders and indecencies he got himself into. Not to mention the racist, sexist, childish and bullying rhetoric he ran with throughout the election.
As one of the biggest advocates of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal with the United States, this might put Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a bit of a pickle. After all, one of Trump’s main message is that he wants to do away with the TPP, which, according to him, has been stealing jobs away from Americans. In fact, Trump called the TPP — a deal that would put Singapore as one of the biggest winners through open trade — a “rape” of his country.
But the American people have voted, and it’s President-elect Donald Trump they voted for. PM Lee congratulated Trump on his win, but noted how the election season in the US has been an “ugly”, and one that “exposed a bitter divide in the American people”.
“US voters have elected a President whom they feel best represents them. Singapore fully respects their decision. We will continue to work together with the United States to cultivate our strong ties”
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