Americans living in Otago and Southland shared mixed reactions yesterday, as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris conceded the election.
Mr Trump will return to the White House after securing the popular vote and more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
Former Texan Dr Danielle Jones, of Invercargill, said she was sad, disappointed and "maybe in a little bit of disbelief" about the result.
While many Americans were celebrating the victory, others were longing for a return to a recognisable political climate, she said.
The Republican party had control of the House of Representatives and the Senate and, as president, Mr Trump could appoint Supreme Court judges.
"The reach of impact is decades, if not centuries," Dr Jones said.
She anticipated attacks on marginalised communities from Mr Trump’s government.
"He has ousted everybody who does not fully align.
"I don’t think a run-of-the-mill establishment Republican would have been able to rally the independent and fence-sitting base like Trump has."
While Ms Harris’ campaign had seen an initial rise in polling when she became nominee in July, she had failed to present herself as a voice for change, Dr Jones said.
"[Harris] just ran a campaign like [US President Joe] Biden would have, and it didn’t feel like change."
However, she believed American voters were also reluctant to vote for a woman.
"I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the two times that [Trump] has won, he’s been running against a woman and the one time he has lost, he has been running against a white man.
"Never underestimate the need for Americans to have a white man in charge."
Henley resident and former United States Air Force lieutenant-colonel Tim Ferner said Mr Trump would deliver changes the average American was eager for.
"They voted for lower taxes, less government, lower cost of living, legal immigration, law and order and safety and security at the border," he said.
"[Harris] was a flawed candidate, who picked a terrible running mate and repeated the same canned lines to the media over and over."
Alexandra resident Deborah Beange, formally of Texas, said the decisive result appeared to have calmed fears of civil unrest.
Mr Trump would work to address voters’ key issues early in his term, she said.
"Americans were told by both President Biden and Kamala Harris that the economy is great, the border is secure and that crime is down.
"Those statements were in stark contrast to what many Americans were experiencing, which created a disconnect."
"I’m wearing black — I’m done," she said.
"I can’t understand it — it’s pretty much the only thing I can say."
