#TrumpWonBecause: Here's what our readers think

Donald Trump has defied the polls and the odds to be elected the 45th President of the United States.

We asked our readers why they thought Trump had succeeded in his presidential bid and the answers were as divisive as the campaign.

Some felt is was down to a lack of communication.

Jean O'Dwyer on Facebook:

"He won because we are not talking to each other; we are talking at each other. There is disparity between the educated and the uneducated and that is a failure of the whole system. People aren't voting for misogyny, they are voting for anything different and in their own interest.

Being a liberal is often a privilege, we have less personal burdens and thus care more about the larger picture. Make no mistake, this was not about Trump, this was about hope. Unfortunately that hope is leaning on a pedestal of lies and deceit and when it finally tumbles down it will hurt exactly those who put it there. A sad day for America. A sad day for the world."

There was a worry that the election was won by preying on people's fears over their hopes.

We lost the #Millennial vote. Because of not wanting to be responsible for either candidate. And hate breeds fear #TrumpWonBecause https://t.co/DaNKwqG8Qa

— Ginger Aarons (@GingerTT) November 9, 2016

Some claimed Trump's victory came down to the rise of social media.

More than a few felt Trump was better than the alternative.

The political elite , career politicians , media , celebs , bankers told them vote 4 Clinton no1 likes been told what to do #TrumpWonBecause

— Niamh Leahy (@devlingirl) November 9, 2016

David Walsh on Facebook said: "I'm here in the US at the minute. The overriding feeling of a few that I talked to opined that Trump probably wouldn't win but they voted for him based on his overall policies being better/less worse/more suited to what they wanted. In other words it was more than personality.

Did they like him?

No.

But did they like the alternative more?

No as well but that's what they went for.

In its way it's America's version of Brexit."

And that "he gave hope to the hopeless".

On Facebook, Dennis O'Brien wrote: "He gave hope to the hopeless. It must be abundantly clear that the electorate nowdays are much more savvy especially with social media.

Trump was saying what the people wanted to hear ,which boils down to, charity begins at home. Now he must deliver on his promises because the electorate will hold him to ransom if he doesn't.

Whatever is promised prior to election must be delivered or the party will suffer the consequences at the next election, whenever that is.!!"

Others thought the Democrats shot themselves in the foot

Democrats ignored their electorate and chose a candidate most democrats didn't even want #TrumpWonBecause

— Mark Dowdall (@Dowdall68) November 9, 2016

And that Trump played to his strengths.

Greg Jones said Trump won because of two reasons.

"1. He's a man who knows it's an extreme generation/ a generation that loves shock and awe drama he learned that from his time on TV he used this to win republican nomination.

2. He listened to the whispers the people who weren't happy with Obama. The ones who felt they were ignored. Who were sick of politics who don't trust politicians. They may not have liked what he was saying but they liked he wasn't afraid to say it. These people came out in record numbers and went against the establishment!"

And surrounded himself with people who could help him win.

Mand Byrn praised Trump's campaign manager:

"He ultimately won because of Kellyanne Conway.

She took a ramshackle, amateurish campaign by the scruff of the neck and put a professional gloss on it,effectively proving that it is indeed possible to shine a turd. That, and wrestling Trump's Twitter account from him way back in October.

In effect,she removed the one obstacle to his winning,the man himself."

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