Trump defied the polls to become the 45th president of the United States. Six US voters tell us why they backed him

Despite a lack of political experience, business magnate Donald Trump swept to an improbable victory in the US presidential elections.

It is clear that despite a series of controversies, his message resonated with a huge number of American voters in key states, and revealed deep anti-establishment anger and discontent.

Donald Trump wins US election: Clinton to deliver concession speech – live Read more

We spoke to six Trump voters about why they voted for the Republican candidate, and why they think he’ll make a good president.

‘I don’t want the Clinton legacy continued in the White House’

Trump is a self-made man. Regardless of getting a hefty loan from his father, he used that money to make a name and legacy for himself. I hope that Trump’s experience as a businessman will enable our country to operate more effectively when it comes to managing our money.

I want to change America to serve the people instead of a political system that wants to serve itself. My life won’t change much, except I will have more hope that my government is trying to make our country strong instead of pandering to its own liberal interests. My main hope is that he will help balance our budget, and secondly that he will help our economy to remain strong.

I don’t want the Clinton legacy continued in the White House. We impeached one Clinton, and there is too much scandal that revolves around the other. Why would I want that legacy in my government?

He may say controversial things, but at least he tells you what he thinks. I certainly disagree with anyone that has behaved in a racist or sexist way. However, I feel like I know where I stand with Trump. He says what he thinks, right or wrong, and I know what I’m dealing with.

I’m so tired of the media and Democrats bellyaching about Trump getting voted in. It’s what the people wanted! It’s pretty sad when all you hear is gloom and doom on the news, which I thought was supposed to be a balanced representation of the two sides. Surprise! There is a whole other part to this country outside of your newsroom walls that actually thinks differently from the mostly liberal ideas that most news outlets put out there.

We are middle America, we are the hardworking people who are holding this country together with our roots, and we are ready to have a country that keeps its cheque book in balance like we do with our private bank accounts.



– Rachael, 34, Indiana, small business owner

‘He knows how to make deals, deals that will make America prosperous again’

I was a Democrat for 39 years, but my children and grandchildren need an America that is out of debt. All that Obama did was double the debt since he took office. I will feel a whole lot safer than I ever would with Hillary.

The biggest question is to ask why he kept sending troops and flooding us with Syrian refugees that are not vetted for the proper amount of time with the possibility of terrorists mixing in and coming to our homeland? My great nephew is still asking that question as he did two tours in Afghanistan. He got out because he felt the president didn’t care about him or his comrades. We have the greatest veterans in the world; I am one of them. The last two presidents didn’t care about what happened to us.

Obama created jobs, but minimum wage jobs. You can’t support a family on a minimum wage. Our manufacturing plants are gone, the coal industry is gone from my area and Hillary would just shut it down the rest of the way.

Obamacare is a failure. Thank God I don’t have to use it. But there are families that need it and if they can’t afford it they get fined. That in itself is the mindset of a dictator. Hillary was going to expand it and make it available for illegals too.

I believe Trump will be a good president because he knows how to make deals, deals that will make America prosperous again. We need to bring our nation together. I like the fact that all three branches are controlled by the same party, now we can get down to the business of straightening out our country, taking care of our people, our veterans, getting the economy moving again and repealing Obamacare.

– Nate, 58, Pennsylvania, retired from the federal government

‘I want conservative laws’

I cried when I left the polling location because I don’t like Trump at all. I was deeply saddened to vote for him. His personality, his mannerisms and his inexperience repulse me. I wish there had been another conservative choice without simply throwing away my vote. I know if I travel outside of the US I will be deeply disliked because of him.



However, he is only a four-year investment and I am trusting in the checks and balances of our country to prevent him and his poor-judgment from damaging the country too much. Hopefully Trump will not affect my daily life.

I personally do not have a gun but I strongly support the right to bear arms recognising it as a right that ensures protection from government tyranny. I am also against abortions.

Trump has the opportunity to elect a supreme court member, maybe even two or three members considering the current health and age of some justices. Justices serve for a lifetime and I do not want the justices to be liberal. I want conservative laws therefore conservative justices.

I can deal with a somewhat low four years, but I couldn’t deal with a supreme court that swings liberal and I couldn’t deal with losing gun rights. I hope the years fly by and that he will do as little damage as possible. I am deeply saddened by these options and I am not proud of our president in the least.

– Andrea, Florida

‘Trump is exactly what you get, with Hillary you can’t know what’s real’

I couldn’t decide who to vote for until the day before voting. It was one the hardest decisions I have ever made.

I decided on Trump for one reason: no-fly zones. Hillary guaranteed full scale war with Syria on day one. I mean how do you expect to initiate a no-fly zone over a sovereign nation? That would then in turn guarantee a conflict with Russia, which will assuredly lead to war.

I know Hillary would have been business as usual as we spiralled ever closer to a full-scale nuclear war with Russia. Four years is a long time but there is always impeachment, and the next election. It’s a risk but one the American people are willing to take.

I’ve previously voted Al Gore, Bush, Obama, Obama, and now Trump. I hope for a sincere shake-up and a breath of fresh air. Trump is a slimy scumbag, who wears it like a badge of honour. But Trump is exactly what you get, Hillary is a phantom and you can’t know what’s real about her. Fainting in New York saying it was heat when it was a mild day, then saying it was pneumonia finally. Lying straight-faced about her emails.

Countries may be laughing at us but it took some balls to elect Trump last night. I don’t think a single person who casted a vote for him felt good about it. I sure didn’t, but felt like there was no other choice. It was either Trump or guaranteed war.

I think Trump knows he is under-qualified but I sincerely think he will fill his cabinet with people who perform their functions effectively. His legacy is banking on this and right now it isn’t secure because the whole world, even Americans, are laughing when they say Trump won. It’s sincerely hard to believe. I feel Hillary would have been business as usual, she would have had nothing but political favours.

– Paul, Ohio, software engineer

‘Obama has put a wedge between the people of this country’

The first woman president should have integrity and that historic moment should not be tainted by someone like Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump might not have political experience but I truly believe he has the American people’s interest at heart.

We need to bring jobs back to our country, make the economy stronger and hopefully unite all people. I feel Obama has put a wedge between the people of this country. We should be looked at as individual merits and not by the colour of our skin.

Trump won’t take nonsense from anyone and he doesn’t have any special interest he has to make happy. He’s for the people!

– Arlene, New Jersey

‘Under Trump the American dream is revived’

Trump understands and supports the American dream; no matter what you have now, if you work hard you can better yourself and positively shape your wealth and future. Clinton made it known that she would continue Obama’s agenda of redistribution. What dream is there in working to see your future gains chopped up by taxation and welfare? Under Clinton I would have just held out my hand and stopped dreaming. Under Trump the American Dream is revived!

I may not like the Trump he shows his buddies in the locker room, I may not agree with his too-rich-to-care insolence or his private life with women, but I agree with his platform and passion.

He gets things done and his drive is proven. He fails and he fails better.

I voted for Trump to keep the minimum wage hike down, retain our constitutional gun rights, and keeping close to the constitution and immigration. I can now start planning my next boutique without the threat of a minimum wage hike. I can afford to get sick while I’m working 60 hours a week to get my business off the ground. The fear of the taxation-to-death threat will lessen. Trump is a businessman. He will pave the way for me to start dreaming again.

Until this election I was independent. This election I declared myself Republican for the first time. My friends are mostly liberal Democrats. They say I’m the poorest Republican they know. I hope that the silent majority stops being bullied by the loud minority.



Trump promises to rebuild our army and fight for our safety, I look to see terrorism defeated and the war on cops to end, a solid declaration of war on Isis and a halt to the preference of immigrants before citizens. I hope welfare will be scaled back and employment will once again become the preferred way to support oneself.



I cried when I heard Trump won. There is once again hope for the American Dream!

– Heather, 43, Kansas, small business owner

*Some names have been changed.