- Title: U.S. expats in Mexico react with shock to Trump
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) U.S. EXPATS WATCHING ELECTION RESULT CLOSE UP OF WOMAN WITH HANDS TO HER MOUTH VARIOUS OF U.S. EXPATS WATCHING RESULTS ELECTORAL MAP WITH STATES COLOURED IN VARIOUS OF U.S. EXPATS WATCHING ELECTION RESULTS WOMAN LOOKING NERVOUS, BITING FINGERNAIL (SOUNDBITE) (English) US CITIZEN, REBE QUIEDO, SAYING: "We were just mentioning that we should build a wall around the middle of America. It's sad that they think this person is supposed to lead our country with no experience. That there's been so much history and news coverage where he's shown that he's screwed over business contractors, how he talks about women, how he talks about all these races, religion. I'm worried." VARIOUS OF U.S. EXPATS WATCHING ELECTION RESULTS WOMEN TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) US CITIZEN, SUSANA BEE, SAYING: "We came thinking tonight that she had it in the bag but that it would be really fun to watch the election coverage. I'm really nervous and we're both really scared right now to go back to the States. It's been really surprising. And it's also a really poor reflection. I'm embarrassed to represent - that this represents the U.S. right now." VARIOUS OF EXPATS WATCHING ELECTION RESULTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) US-MEXICAN CITIZEN, VERONICA REYES, SAYING: "I love living in Mexico, I am completely happy with my decision to live here. I think that living in a different country also separates you from potential anything that might be happening in the United States. And honestly, if Trump wins, I kind of feel safer as a minority and as a woman living in Mexico." WOMAN WATCHING RESULTS MAN WEARING SWEATSHIRT IN SUPPORT OF HILLARY CLINTON MAN IN WHITE SHIRT WATCHING RESULTS EXPATS WATCHING RESULTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) US POLITICS TEACHER, LEONARDO NUNEZ, SAYING: "Trump says we have to deport all the immigrants, we have to redo our trade. Mexicans are worried. Not only because they are our neighbours and it affects us like no other country, a country governed by these characteristics." MAN DRESSED AS UNCLE SAM MAN DRESSED AS UNCLE SAM WITH WOMAN DRESSED AS STATUE OF LIBERTY
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 08:07
- Keywords: Hillary Clinton Donald Trump U.S. presidential election
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00157Q1Q3P
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: US expats in Mexico expressed concern after Republican Donald Trump stunned the world on Tuesday (November 08) by defeating heavily favoured Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.
A wealthy real-estate developer and former reality TV host, Trump rode a wave of anger toward Washington insiders to defeat Clinton, whose gold-plated establishment resume includes stints as a first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.
The US election has been a hot topic in Mexico after Trump vowed to deport undocumented migrants and build a border wall between the two countries.
And for many expats in Mexico, Trump's victory was disappointing.
"We were just mentioning that we should build a wall around the middle of America. It's sad that they think this person is supposed to lead our country with no experience. That there's been so much history and news coverage where he's shown that he's screwed over business contractors, how he talks about women, how he talks about all these races, religion. I'm worried," said US citizen, Rebe Quiedo.
Victorious in a cliffhanger race that opinion polls had forecast was Clinton's to win, Trump won avid support among a core base of white non-college educated workers with his promise to be the "greatest jobs president that God ever created."
His 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.
"We came thinking tonight that she had it in the bag but that it would be really fun to watch the election coverage. I'm really nervous and we're both really scared right now to go back to the States. It's been really surprising. And it's also a really poor reflection. I'm embarrassed to represent - that this represents the U.S. right now," said US citizen, Susana Bee.
Trump, who at 70 will be the oldest first-term U.S. president, came out on top after a bitter and divisive campaign that focused largely on the character of the candidates and whether they could be trusted to serve as the country's 45th president.
Veronica Reyes is a joint Mexican-US citizen told Reuters she feels safer living in Mexico City than in the United States.
"I love living in Mexico, I am completely happy with my decision to live here. I think that living in a different country also separates you from potential anything that might be happening in the United States. And honestly, if Trump wins, I kind of feel safer as a minority and as a woman living in Mexico," she said.
For many Mexicans, they will eagerly await to see how Trump moves forward with his promises on deportation and a border wall.
"Trump says we have to deport all the immigrants, we have to redo our trade. Mexicans are worried. Not only because they are our neighbours and it affects us like no other country, a country governed by these characteristics," said a teacher of US politics, Leonardo Nunes.
The presidency will be his first elected office, and it remains to be seen how he will work with Congress. During the campaign Trump was the target of sharp disapproval, not just from Democrats but from many in his own party.
He has offered vague plans to win economic concessions from China, to build a wall on the southern U.S. border with Mexico to keep out undocumented immigrants and to pay for it with tax money sent home by migrants.
The Mexican peso plunged to its lowest-ever levels after Trump's victory. The peso had become a touchstone for sentiment on the election as Trump threatened to rip up a free trade agreement with Mexico. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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