How South Australians reacted to Trump’s victory
South Australia’s political and media class expressed varying degrees of despair, humour and smugness as it became clear Donald J. Trump would be the next president of the United States.
President-elect Donald Trump giving his acceptance speech last night. Photo: AAP
This morning, Premier Jay Weatherill was keen to project a sense of calm about South Australia’s relationship with the US.
“South Australians can be reassured our state has had strong relations with the United States for decades and I expect this will continue under the new administration,” he said in a statement.
“Our ties with the US are about shared interests, primarily in the areas of defence and trade, and that is something which will endure into the future.”
But not everyone was so diplomatic as the news came in yesterday afternoon.
Former Transport Minister Patrick Conlon:
2016 has a real "Lord of the Flies" feel about it
— Patrick F Conlon (@PatrickFConlon2) November 9, 2016
Labor backbencher Chris Picton:
Current status: pic.twitter.com/7Otk4mmIC2
— Chris Picton MP (@PictonChris) November 9, 2016
Liberal Party Senator for South Australia Cory Bernardi:
#MakeAustraliaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/ag8hfSAvsI
— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) November 9, 2016
Bernardi told his Facebook followers last night that “the stunning election victory by Donald Trump last night is validation of all I have been warning about for many years”.
“The movement against the establishment political parties, who have consistently and wilfully ignored the mainstream majority in favour of their own power and self-interest, is moving across the globe.”
Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young:
I feel sick. How can a thug who brags about sexually assaulting women get this much power? #AmericaDecides pic.twitter.com/uF0KFYUMD3
— Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) November 9, 2016
Hanson-Young this morning urged the Australian Government to abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement trade deal in light of Trump’s election.
“This disaster of a deal was going to give international businesses the power to sue the Australian Government and drive up the cost of cancer medication,” she said.
Trump described the TPP as a “disaster” earlier this year.
Independent Senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon:
The US/Australia alliance was built on shared values. If President-elect Trump trashes those values, we’ll need to rethink the alliance.
— Nick Xenophon (@Nick_Xenophon) November 9, 2016
Xenophon posted to Facebook this morning:
“The lesson from last night is this: if we allow globalisation to be managed in a way that benefits the few over the many, we are in trouble.
“This isn’t about protectionism, this is about understanding how a strong economy is a complex economy and that if we allow our manufacturing sector to hollow out, our living standards will drop — and that must not be allowed to happen.”
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis:
Pollsters, bookies & political pundits all get it wrong again. A bit like SA’s political elite proclaiming a Liberal victory in 2018 already
— Tom Koutsantonis (@TKoutsantonisMP) November 9, 2016
Mental Health Minister Leesa Vlahos:
Daughter says: When Trump starts a war with Mexico, she’s backing her old friend Dora the explorer to win.
— Leesa Vlahos MP (@LeesaVlahosMP) November 9, 2016
Liberal MP Stephan Knoll:
The US may have a new President but Ruby helping to bake my birthday cake is still the most important thing to happen today! #frozenismyfave pic.twitter.com/OmDZ8YRvBA
— Stephan Knoll (@stephanknoll) November 9, 2016
Labor MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Michael Atkinson:
Old convention that Australian political leaders should not issue statements about electoral races in allied countries has been vindicated.
— Michael Atkinson (@MickAtko) November 9, 2016
Liberal MP Vincent Tarzia, unimpressed by Hillary Clinton’s performance:
For a US candidate to not speak to their supporters on the night of the election, win or lose, is poor form. At least show them respect.
— Vincent Tarzia, MP (@VincentTarzia) November 9, 2016
ABC reporter (poet) Daniel Keane:
InDaily senior reporter Tom Richardson:
Anyone who says they couldn’t see this coming should have. People don’t like being told what to think.
— Tom Richardson (@TomRichardson) November 9, 2016
News Limited State Political Editor Daniel Wills:
#ElectionNight https://t.co/66wVAKDBbY
— Daniel Wills (@DanWillsTiser) November 9, 2016
The Advertiser reporter Lauren Novak:
Hoping those around President Trump can convince him to tone down this list of worrying promises… https://t.co/JpjmqlTqzK #ElectionNight
— Lauren Novak (@Lauren__Dailey) November 9, 2016
Sunday Mail entertainment reporter Matt Gilbertson:
Good night America pic.twitter.com/ogCttdvWAQ
— Matt Gilbertson (@matt_gilbertson) November 9, 2016
South Australians turned to the ABC to get their news of Trump’s shock victory.
ABC television’s 7pm news bulletin was the ratings winner of the night, attracting more viewers than any of the commercial services.
With timing on their side, the ABC garnered 110,000 viewers, followed by Seven (108,000), Nine (98,000) and Ten (52,000).
