Trump has colossal challenges ahead

He came; he confronted; and he conquered. The unexpected result has given the ‘unpredictable’ the presidential crown. Donald Trump has been voted to become the 45th president of the United States of America. If Brexit was a big shock for the world, Donald Trump’s victory is the bigger one.
Undoubtedly, the realty tycoon has stunned America and the world. He antagonized every existing norm and still posted a resounding victory plunging the global markets into turmoil with stocks crashing down across Asia and Europe. Billions were wiped off the value of investments. And it put the long-standing global political order into doubt.
During a bitter two-year campaign that tugged at America’s democratic fabric, the 70-year-old bombastic tycoon pledged to deport illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from the country and tear up free trade deals.
Mexicans, fearing Trump’s vow to build a wall to cut America off from its southern neighbour, became dismayed and the peso fell to historic lows.
During the campaign, he found friends among foes and made allies bitter.
Trump openly courted Russia President Vladimir Putin during the race, called US support for NATO allies in Europe into question and suggested that South Korea and Japan should develop their own nuclear weapons.
And so there was no disguising the concern of Washington’s European partners that Trump’s victory might destroy the Western alliance they still regard as a touchstone for stability and the rule of law.
Unsurprisingly, European Council chief Tusk and European Commission boss Juncker said they wanted to discuss issues including terrorism and Ukraine with Trump after he beat Democratic contender Hillary Clinton.
And some of the most enthusiastic support for Trump came from far-right and nationalist politicians in Europe such as French opposition figure Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini of Italy’s Northern League and British euroskeptic Nigel Farage.
Among many things, the American voters have proved the poll pundits wrong. And the result went totally against Obama who always repeated the credo “there is no black or white America, only the United States of America.”
Hillary Clinton had been widely assumed to be on course to enter the history books as the first woman to become president in America’s 240-year existence. But it seems Americans repudiated her call for unity opting instead for a leader who insisted the country is broken and that he ‘alone can fix it.’
The political neophyte, who humiliated the seasoned politicians, won the nomination race. The billionaire, who called the media and political system rigged, succeeded in tapping the popular anger.
No wonder it turned out to be the most extraordinary presidential campaign in modern history.
Given the fact that Trump rode on the populist anger to clinch an unexpected victory, he has a colossal task and challenges ahead. He will have to understand real reasons of popular disenchantment. He will have to find ways to work for disaffected in a manner that must not spawn further discontent among people.
His victory has created a deluge of uncertainty due to his unpredictability which came to the surface during his presidential campaign. The days ahead will show whether it was apolitical stunt to win a point over his rival or it is deeply ingrained in him. Trump has to explain what he wants to do.