US Elex: The challenges ahead for Trump

(Vatican Radio) The world has been reacting to the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said,  "we wish the new president well, that he may have a truly fruitful government.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered the President-elect ``close cooperation'', while UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was looking forward to work with Mr Trump.

Donald Trump gave, what was viewed as, a conciliatory victory speech in which he praised Clinton and urged Americans to ``come together as one united people'' after a deeply divisive campaign.

But what are the challenges he faces? Lydia O’Kane spoke to Mattia Diletti, a lecturer in Political Science at Rome’s La Sapienza University.

Listen: 

Mr Diletti says that one of the main challenges for Donald Trump is to “keep his promises” to the American people. He also says that his focus could very well on be on his own country rather than on foreign policy, but, he notes, it’s difficult to foresee at this time what will happen.

Asked why he thought more Americans voted for Trump rather than Hillary Clinton the political expert says that, “Clinton was not appealing (to voters); in three or four key states she lost the election…” He adds, that Americans voted for change and they voted against the past and they voted against their economic situation.

Under the U.S. constitution, Donald Trump doesn't formally take the reins of power until January but he will likely begin the transition to his presidency almost immediately.