World reacts to shock election result: Donald Trump is America’s next president

The businessman-turned-Republican nominee swept to victory on Tuesday as a fragmented United States prepared to usher in a new era.

Heading in to Tuesday’s vote, Mr Trump was an outsider and Hillary Clinton was the firm favourite. Few saw the result coming but most agree it will have global repercussions.

In New York City, Trump headquarters is hosting a victory party that will go well into the night. While the champagne flowed, Hillary Clinton pulled out of an appearance at her own party.

The rest of the world is coming to grips with the reality of Donald Trump leading the free world. This is how the world reacted.

HIGH PROFILE AMERICANS

American political activist Anthony “Van” Jones unleashed on Mr Trump, calling the results a “white lash” against a black president and against a changing America.

“There’s another side to this,” he told CNN.

“People have talked about a miracle. I’m hearing about a nightmare. It’s hard to be a parent tonight for a lot of us. You tell your kids ‘Don’t be a bully’, you tell your kids ‘Don’t be a bigot’, you tell your kids ‘Do your homework and be prepared’.

Welcome to the #WhiteLash.

— Van Jones (@VanJones68) November 9, 2016

“I have Muslim friends that are texting me tonight saying ‘Should I leave the country?’ I have families of immigrants that are terrified tonight. This was many things, this was a rebellion against the elites, but it was also something else.

“We haven’t talked about race. This was a white lash against a changing country, it was a white lash against a black president in part. That’s the part where the pain comes.”