‘Don’ of a new era in US

Hillary Clinton’s quest to make history as the first woman president was thwarted by the Republican nominee’s breathtaking performance at the polls. He was carried to victory by voters fed up with the political system and mistrustful of Clinton, a former first lady, senator and secretary of state. Trump, a 70-year-old celebrity businessman who had never before run for office, is poised to become the oldest president ever elected to a first term. 

After running a divisive campaign, Trump sounded a magnanimous note of reconciliation as he claimed victory shortly before 3 am on November 9. “Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country,” Trump said, minutes after Clinton called him to concede. “I mean that very sincerely. Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division. We have to get together. 

To all Republicans, Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.” Trump said that under his administration, “America will no longer settle for anything less than the best.” And he promised foreign countries that “while we were always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone,” adding: “We will seek common ground, not hostility.” The real estate developer thanked his wife, Melania, and his children for their patience, saying: “This was tough. This was tough. This political stuff is nasty and it’s tough.”

Harris, 51, who defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez, is the first  Indian American woman to be elected to the upper chamber in more than two decades. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan migrated to the US from Chennai  in order to study science, specifically endocrinology and complex mechanisms of cancer. Her father Donald, grew up in Jamaica, where he became a national scholar and earned the opportunity to study economics. Kamala was born in Oakland, California. A two-term Attorney General of California, Harris defeated L Sanchez from her own party. She would replace Barbara Boxer who announced her retirement in 2014 after serving more than twenty years in the US Senate.  “Kamala will be taking the oath of office as California’s next Senator on January 3, 2017,” said the office of the Senate elect. Described by President Barack Obama as “fearless”, Kamala Harris may push for stronger ties between India and America. Considered to be protege of Obama, she is expected to be a fierce advocate of India US relationship.