The shocking result of the 2016 election led to startling reactions through social media platforms from celebrities, news platforms and other organizations.

Overall, social media presence tended to favor the Democratic views of Hillary Clinton; this correlates with her desire to emulate Barack Obama, who revolutionized the idea of social media in a presidential election during his 2008 and 2012 campaigns. Therefore, a vast amount of the immediate response following the election was negative and targeted toward Donald Trump and his supporters. 

Within hours of the election, full articles were published criticizing both pollsters and the American people.

Cosmopolitan released an article on Snapchat from the perspective of an angered woman who hastily wrote “How America Failed Women” in which she shared her outlook on Trump. Within this article, not only was the statements made by Trump criticized but also the choice of the American people to elect him into the presidency.

This article would also raise questions as to whether Clinton lost the presidency due to sexism in the United States; however, many feel it was primarily the movement started by Trump, as well as, a combination of lies and scandals that truly cost Clinton the White House, according to Fox News analysts.

Moreover, even liberal leaning news outlets such as CNN published articles, on Snapchat and other apps, within hours of the results criticizing the failure of pollsters and the media to predict the groundswell the American people witnessed on November 8th.  

Social media accounts with large social media presences, such as MTV posted and tweeted against Donald Trump, even after he claimed the presidency. They concluded their election based Instagram posts on November 9th with a quote from Hillary, as a sign of denial of this new presidency. However, America has witnessed even more backlash through YouTube and Snapchat at the hands of illegitimate news sources such as MTV and Buzz Feed. 

Regardless, Donald Trump gave a “very presidential” speech, according to Fox News. Within this speech extended an olive branch to Democrats and all those who didn’t support him. It now rests with the American people and Donald Trump to unite this nation despite individual differences.  

Sources Referenced:

-”How America Failed Women” by Jill Filipovic, Cosmopolitan

-”How politicians, pollsters and media missed Trump’s groundswell” by Dylan Byers, CNN

-MTV Instagram and Twitter Feeds