Kweku Baako Jnr
Wednesday’s election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, though coming as a surprise to many, should be accepted by all, especially by a section of Americans who have embarked on street protests to register their dislike with the outcome, New Crusading Guide editor-in-chief Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako has urged.
Mr Trump of the US Republican Party defeated his main rival, Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party, to become president of the world’s most powerful country, following elections held on Tuesday November 8.
The popular US former first lady, having spent several years in frontline politics, was widely tipped to beat the wealthy businessman, who has no political experience. Mr Trump became a global hate figure with his controversial campaign, during which he promised such radical measures on immigration as the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, the construction of a wall on America’s southern border to keep out mainly Mexican immigrants, and a ban on Muslims visiting the country.
He was also hit by a wave of scandals in the run-up to the polls, while most pre-election surveys predicted a comfortable win for Mrs Clinton.
However, in the aftermath of Mr Trump’s win, several anti-Trump protests have broken out in the US challenging the electoral outcome.
But the veteran journalist, who also confessed to being “devastated” at the decision of no less a country than the US to elect the controversial mogul as its leader, said the demonstrators should face up to the reality of a Trump presidency for the next four years.
“I was also shocked when it turned out that Mr Trump had won the elections. It was the least thing I expected. I was also surprised at the tone of his victory speech; I was quite surprised. But my scepticism remains intact. I think he suffers a certain sincerity deficit relative to the things he had said prior to the elections. I find it difficult that today in America, such a great country, you can have Donald Trump as president…
“What I don’t like…is the protests underway, even though sentimentally I appreciate where the protestors are coming from. I think that in terms of the American system, they ought to accept the verdict and live with it for another four years.”
