- Title: Mixed reaction to Trump victory in Italy and Vatican
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AND HORSE AND CARRIAGE IN ROME'S PIAZZA DEL POPOLO SQUARE PEOPLE BY FOUNTAIN PEOPLE IN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, BIANCA MARIA VACCHESIA, SAYING: "To me he seems like a warmonger. He doesn't look like a person with a good head on his shoulders, but rather like someone who acts before thinking too much. I would have preferred Clinton." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, MARINA, SAYING: "It's a change, if nothing else, and we'll see what happens next. We are living in a period of big changes and who knows if this will turn out to be a good thing." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) VISITOR FROM NORTHERN ITALY, ANDREA NARDIN, SAYING: "I am not worried because I think the United States, electing a president through a democratic process, is demonstrating a freedom and rights that will be anyway protected. Similarly, I think a basic foundation of stability will also remain in the country's relations with other countries." VATICAN (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) CROWDS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE POLICE CHECKING PEOPLE ENTERING ST. PETER'S SQUARE CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA NUNS WALKING IN STREET TOURISTS WALKING IN VATICAN (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MONK SALVATORE SABATO SAYING: "They are both Americans and both love America, let's just hope that they won't cause damage everywhere else. Clinton was expected to win but maybe it's too early for a woman to be in charge in the United States. It's not a question about being a man or a woman, perhaps the United States, just like Italy, just needs a leader who is a bit tougher." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) NUN, SISTER IMELDA, SAYING: "As a Christian, we always have hope for a better future. We leave it in His hands." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, ANGELA, SAYING: "I preferred Hillary but that's how it went. I'm disappointed, really, it would have been great if a woman took over at the White House. She would have been the first and it would have been a great change but it didn't happen." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) NUN WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED SAYING: "No, I'm not worried but maybe they could have chosen better, better than either of the two candidates." POLICE ON GUARD IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE CROWDS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 10:58
- Keywords: Donald Trump Hillary Clinton United States election Italy Rome Vatican reaction
- Location: ROME, ITALY AND VATICAN
- City: ROME, ITALY AND VATICAN
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00257Q4MDJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Italians and visitors to Rome and the Vatican on Wednesday (November 9) expressed divided views over Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election.
Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favoured Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's (November 8) presidential election, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.
Some Rome residents passing through the central Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) said they were disappointed in the outcome.
"To me he seems like a warmonger. He doesn't look like a person with a good head on his shoulders, but rather like someone who acts before thinking too much. I would have preferred Clinton," said local woman Bianca Maria Vacchesia.
Others, meanwhile, said they were not concerned and believed the change of guard could have positive effects.
"It's a change, if nothing else, and we'll see what happens next. We are living in a period of big changes and who knows if this will turn out to be a good thing," said Rome resident Marina who did not want to give her last name.
"I am not worried because I think the United States, electing a president through a democratic process, is demonstrating a freedom and rights that will be anyway protected. Similarly, I think a basic foundation of stability will also remain in the country's relations with other countries," added Andrea Nardin, visiting the capital from northern Italy.
Trump's win raises a host of questions for the United States at home and abroad. He campaigned on a pledge to take the country on a more isolationist, protectionist "America First" path. He has vowed to impose a 35 percent tariff on goods exported to the United States by U.S. companies that went abroad.
During the campaign, Trump said he would "make America great again" through the force of his personality, negotiating skill and business acumen. He proposed refusing entry to the United States of people from war-torn Middle Eastern countries, a modified version of an earlier proposed ban on Muslims.
"They are both Americans and both love America, let's just hope that they won't cause damage everywhere else. Clinton was expected to win but maybe it's too early for a woman to be in charge in the United States. It's not a question about being a man or a woman, perhaps the United States, just like Italy, just needs a leader who is a bit tougher," said Italian monk Salvatore Sabato, walking near St. Peter's Square on Wednesday morning.
While some locals in the Vatican said they were supporting Clinton, others said they had not been impressed by either candidate.
"I preferred Hillary but that's how it went. I'm disappointed, really, it would have been great if a woman took over at the White House. She would have been the first and it would have been a great change but it didn't happen," said Rome resident Angela.
"No, I'm not worried but maybe they could have chosen better, better than either of the two candidates," said a nun who did not want to give her name.
A wealthy real-estate developer and former reality TV host, Trump rode a wave of anger toward Washington insiders to win the White House race against Clinton, the Democratic candidate whose gold-plated establishment resume included stints as a first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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