John Whelan: Don’t dismiss Donald Trump threat facing Ireland

The result of the US election was in large part a reaction by many working-class people who feel betrayed by globalisation and the free-trade agreements they believe have closed their factories and given their jobs away to Mexico and China, as well as Ireland.

Mr Trump’s nomination as the next US president shocking to many of us in Europe, is music to the ears of laid-off factory workers and farmers in many states and particularly swing states such as Ohio.

His apocalyptic tones throughout the election rallies did strike with their experiences on the ground.