Nov 9, 2016 4 min read

In an stunning upset, celebrity businessman and political novice Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States after winning several key states expected to go to his rival, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Followers of the Observer-Reporter’s Facebook page on both sides of the political spectrum were surprised by the outcome of the election, but not just that Trump defied the odds.

“I’m still amazed that crooked Hillary got one vote,” said Judy Dennis Milliken of Houston in a Facebook comment, adding that she is “tired of politicians killing this country.”

But Brian Dugan of Canonsburg, who identified himself as a Democrat in his comment, said he’s upset about Trump’s victory, though he is willing to give Trump a chance.

“I’ll give him two years, and if he can’t ‘make America great again’ like he promised, I’ll consider him an absolute bust,” Dugan said.

Eighty Four native Eric McGrosky, a Bernie Sanders supporter in the primary who voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the general election, believes Trump is “probably the most terrified person in the world right now” after becoming president-elect.

“He is in control of the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court … a politician’s dream … but he’s not one,” McGrosky said in his comment.

Many Trump supporters expressed relief that their candidate won, with several short, positive comments including “glad he won,” “great” and “wonderful news.”

On Washington & Jefferson College’s campus in Washington, student Ashlynn Faulkner of Harmarville said she was “a little bit” surprised by the upset.

“But I voted for Trump, so I was happy at the same time,” Faulkner said, adding that she felt confident “he’s going to make a change for the better, even if people do doubt him.”

W&J student Katrina Lenhart of South Park was also surprised by the outcome. She said she was “in between” the candidates, but was “a bigger fan of Hillary than Trump,” though she is concerned that “his rhetoric while campaigning may become policy against minorities.”

Despite that concern, Lenhart hopes that “even if people don’t agree with his views, hopefully we can make a positive difference for the country.”

But the election outcome did not surprise African-American W&J student Victor Kivuva, who said he was more surprised by Obama being elected president in 2008 and 2012.

“I think it’s funny people were surprised,” Kivuva said. “A racist white man running for president of the United States? To me, that’s Tuesday.”

In Greene County, Olivia McLauwghlin, a student at Waynesburg University, said she was surprised but happy with the election results.

“I’m Republican because my family’s Republican,” she said. “My dad works in the oil and gas industry, so if I voted for Hillary, it would have been like voting for my dad to lose his job.”

Like Lenhart, McLaughlin is hopeful about Democrats working with Republicans during Trump’s term.

“The past eight years with Obama have been about change, so let’s keep that change going,” she said.

Noelle Hughes, another Waynesburg student, said she wasn’t pleased with either candidate, but she was more happy with the results of the election than she would have been if Clinton had won.

Jan Teagarden of Carmichaels also said she wasn’t pleased with the choice of candidates.

“I’m just glad it’s over now,” she said. “The chips can now fall as they may, with the candidate who won.”

When Trump winning Pennsylvania was announced on the O-R Facebook page late Tuesday night, Julia Vernau commented, “Hang your head in shame PA,” Ellen Palmer of New Eagle said she thought it “was so sweet that Pennsylvania was the state that took him over the top.”

But regardless of the differing opinions on President-elect Donald Trump, Kittaning resident William Tarr succinctly noted that “the people of Pennsylvania have spoken.”

Staff writer Katie Anderson contributed to this story.