Donald Trump elected, this American, former correspondent in Normandy, testifies

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“It’s depressed here. » 7 a.m., the journalist retired Clare Kittredgeliving in Portsmouth, a small town of 20,000 inhabitants in New Hampshire, wakes up “tired and super disappointed”. The divisive Republican Donald Trump returns to the White House four years after leaving it.

“It’s very shocking”

After a short night's sleep and a long night following the results, the former correspondent for the Boston Globe and whose maternal grandmother was born in Cherbourg (Manche), reacts: “It's very shocking that this country has elected a man so rudeand malpoliwhich respects so little the womenwhich mocks journalists – who describes them as enemies of the people – and who has so little respect for the institutions of his own country…”

« United States of Anxiety »

At the start of the week, the journalist, who notably covered the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy for the New England daily, already showed his fear of seeing Trump victorious. “We're biting our nails… I read a headline somewhere describing the USA as theUnited States of Anxiety (The United States of Anxiety). Some here tell me that all this uncertainty shows how much resistance there still is to electing a woman president of the United States. »

“Poor Ukraine”

In his state, New Hampshire, no “resistance”. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris came out on top. But this Wednesday, his Republican rival Trump won in four key states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin), which gives enough voters to win. He thus becomes the 47th president of the United States.

“I think it's a catastrophe for the USA, for the free world, for democracy, the freedom of womenexpression, and journalism, deplores Clare Kittredge. Poor Ukraine. I'm still trying to explain it to myself. I attribute this vote to cultural issues and the fact that Americans misunderstood the influence of social networks probably manipulated by the Russians and Putin, but it remains to be seen. »

“Lies”

She elaborates: “I think that Democrats have become prisoners of cultural issues. It doesn't surprise me to learn that in some states, Republicans have taken out ads denouncing this, and this whole preoccupation with trans people and he, she, them. »

And continues: “A neighbor here just told me that the American national media really hasn't explored much about the influence of easily manipulated social media and the lies they've constantly repeated… nor the potentially harmful influence of leaders foreigners like Putin or others. »

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