It is difficult to see Trump’s defeat of Democrat nominee Kamala Harris as anything other than a catastrophe. 

It is a devastating result for women, everywhere. 

Trump is a criminal who has been found guilty of falsifying records and liable for sexual assault.

He will govern by assuming control over women’s rights and bodies. 

As president, he was impeached twice, while thousands of his supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, trying to overturn his defeat in the previous year’s presidential election.

This is not to reckon with his mishandling of the covid pandemic, nor the condemnation of previous aides, such as former chief of staff John Kelly, who described Trump as unfit for office. 

The election campaign which just concluded often showcased the violent, misogynist, and racist rhetoric favoured by Trump and his followers.

Personal distaste for Trump may obscure the more serious threats represented by his re-election, which is likely to test the robustness of America’s democratic institutions to the fullest extent.

That might sound overblown, but crude bluster is not as consequential as Trump’s links to Project 2025, for instance, a wide-ranging blueprint which aims to reorganise the American government according to a conservative agenda: Former aides of Trump were instrumental in preparing that plan.

The new president is an avowed fan of Russian president Vladimir Putin, which does not augur well for Western support of Ukraine in its war with Russia. 

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his victory yesterday but must surely be concerned about his nation’s chances of survival with the change in the White House.

Ukrainians who have fled Putin’s war, including more than 100,00 living here, will be terrified.

Others are happier with Trump’s win.

Israel will be emboldened as it continues to massacre innocent people under the guise of retribution.

Time will reveal the full extent of Elon Musk’s support for Trump but it is clear he has helped return him to the White House.

Musk’s power and wealth will soar as a result. He donated millions to Trump and made personal appearances and gave away more money. 

But changing X, his social media platform, to accommodate more right-wing voices and attitudes aided the Trump cause. 

The new president may yet appoint him to a cabinet position, where his impact might be felt far beyond America.

Some Trump policies may become self-inflicted wounds — his plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants may rebound on those elements of the US economy which are reliant on cheap labour, but many observers will be interested in his oft-stated wish to impose tariffs as high as 20% on European exports to America. 

Such a move would be likely to have a negative impact on the value of the euro as well as the earnings of large European companies.

All of which brings us to a pressing concern for Ireland — whether a second Trump presidency will have a direct impact on the large number of American companies operating here. 

He has often expressed a wish to cut the US corporation tax rate from 21% to 15% to favour companies remaining in or relocating to America, a worrying prospect given Ireland’s reliance on American companies.

For many, the shock and dismay at yesterday’s news may linger, but there are also lessons to be learned and mistakes to be avoided from recent events in America.

The presidential election has shown what happens when voters rally to the banner of a personality instead of engaging with issues, and the results of misinformation and falsehoods going unchallenged.

It is sad that a country once known as a cradle of democracy can now be seen as a cautionary tale, but it is also important that we avoid making the same errors.