AMERICA has spoken — business mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States, defeating his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a surprising turn of events on November 8, election day.
I could not be more proud of President Barack Obama and Sec. Hillary Clinton for going past the defeat and the toxic divisive campaign by immediately urgingthe American people to accept the outcome of the election and give President-elect Donald Trump the support he needs to have a successful presidency.
But despite this, there were thousands of disappointed and angry Americans who protested in the streets of major cities of the country, declaring that Donald Trump is NOT their president.
These protesters have been voicing out their disdain against what they say Trump has ignited in the hearts of his followers: the fire of hatred, bigotry, discrimination, and sexism. They contend that a person who brings out the worst in people does not deserve to be president.
For many Americans these allegations are so real, especially after Trump won the election. Muslim Americans, people of color; including many kababayans; lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgenders — they have all been verbally, emotionally, and even physically attacked by Trump supporters.
For many Americans with undocumented family members, the fear of separation becomes even more overwhelming, as Trump has vowed to deport those who have been living and working in the United States illegally.
This is perhaps the most important executive action that Donald Trump needs to accomplish first as president-elect — to call on his supporters and lead by example on how to respect and reach out to those who did not vote for him.
Trump needs to show that he will be the president for and of ALL AMERICANS, as he promised, and the first step is to affirm this in his words and action.
As president, Donald Trump must now take off his reality TV show hat and begin preparing for the biggest role he will ever play — to be the Commander-in-Chief of the United States. Enough of hatred and condemnation — healing will have to start from him.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
