TRENDING: Filipinos react to Donald Trump winning the US presidential elections
Donald Trump has claimed victory in the 2024 US presidential elections after garnering 277 Electoral College votes. This is a significant gap from his rival Kamala Harris who received 224 votes.
Following this, the world is buzzing with reactions to the new leadership. Filipino social media users, alongside leaders and local personalities, have expressed different emotions about the results.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially congratulated Trump on his win.
“We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision, and a long history of working together,” he began.
Marcos said he is hopeful that the countries’ “unshakeable alliance” will be a “force of good that will blaze a path of prosperity and amity, in the region, and in both sides of the Pacific.”
He added, “I have personally met President Trump as a young man, so I know that his robust leadership will result in a better future for all of us. Congratulations, President Trump.”
Actor Bb. Gandanghari, who obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2022, also expressed joy at Trump’s victory.
“Americans [have] spoken,” she wrote, sharing a photo of Trump accompanied by Lee Greenwood’s song, God Bless the U.S.A in her Instagram story.
Senators also congratulated Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, on the win.
“Congratulations, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance! Looking forward to strengthening the alliance between our countries that will benefit our kababayans, both here and abroad,” Senator Win Gatchalian wrote on X.
Senators Robin Padilla and Bato Dela Rosa expressed their support for Trump hours before the closing of polls on Nov. 6.
“My kumpadre is winning the polls. I think I can visit the US of A again. Let’s go Republicans!” Dala Rosa said, sharing an old photo of him posing beside Trump.
For his part, Padilla explained why he supports Trump as the “pro-Philippines” choice.
“Para sa ‘kin, makakabuti kung si President-elect Donald Trump...presently hindi natin gusto ang nangyayari sa buong mundo, sa Ukraine, sa middle east, at dito sa atin ‘yung tensyon dito, lahat yan nasa administrasyon ni Biden, e vice president si [Kamala] Harris, so sa akin, para mabago, Trump muna,” Padilla told the media.
However, some lamented the current results, social media user Alfonso Manalastas reflected on how the 2024 U.S. polls resemble the Philippine elections.
“If it feels like we set the trend for electing authoritarian figures into positions of power, it’s because, in a way, we are. Both 2016 and 2022 elections were test beds for how effectively the proliferation of fake news on social media can win elections,” he wrote on X.
Nico Quejano also wrote, “Pilipinas: ‘Never Again’ It has Again-ed. US: ‘We are not going back.’ They went back.”
Radio personality DJ Chacha also related the two countries’ elections, focusing on Trump’s and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign taglines.
“’He’s gonna make America great again’ daw sabi ng supporter ni Trump. Narinig ko na rin yan noon eh, ‘Change is coming’ daw dito sa Pinas. Ayun, ending nganga,” she wrote.
TV host Bianca Gonzales also shared her brief yet meaningful reaction.
“cue juan karlos... "o diba, nakaka-" she wrote, referencing a song lyric from Juan Karlos’ hit song, Ere.
Election Day kicked off in the US on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with Democrat Harris in a head-to-head battle against Republican and former President Trump for the highest position in their country.
Trump will make a comeback four years after being defeated by the Biden-Harris tandem in 2021. He previously served as president from 2017 to 2021. During his regime, he was voted for impeachment twice due to abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in 2019 and 2021 for incitement of resurrection.
Harris, meanwhile, served as the vice president under Joe Biden’s leadership. She became the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected to this position.