Donald Trump's victory in the US election is being seen as a boon for far-right populist movements across the United States and Europe, with controversial parties among the first to congratulate him.
The leader of France's National Front political party, Marine Le Pen congratulated the new President and the "free people" of the US for their victory.
"What happened last night was not the end of the world, it was the end of a world," she said. "The Americans gave themselves a president of their choosing and not the one that the establishment wanted them to rubber-stamp."
Marine Le Pen congratulated the new President and the "free people" of the US for their victory. Photo / AP
Her chief strategist Florian Philippot said: "Their world is crumbling. Ours is being created."
World leaders were quick to congratulate the new president-elect including those from Russia, Germany, France, the UK, Canada and other European nations. Leaders of UN-bodies, NATO and the World Trade Organisation also issued statements on global leadership on trade, climate and the economy.
However it's smaller parties that have really been energised by the result which shows the potential for populist movements on a large scale.
The leader of Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany party Frauke Petry called the opportunity "historic" and said "the Americans have opted for political renewal and against corruption".
Anti-Islam and anti-European Dutch politician Gert Wilders, who has recently been on trial for hate speech, said the victory was a sign the West is living through a "patriotic spring" that could see an uprising against elites who are perceived to be out of touch.
"Trump winning proved to me that people are fed up with politically-correct politicians who are concerned and involved with issues that regard themselves but not those that are important to the public," he said after the result.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party. Photo / AP
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said the result was a "deep shock" for the establishment that had been rocked to its core five months earlier during the Brexit vote which saw the UK opt to leave the EU by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.
"What we are witnessing is the end of a period of big business and big politics controlling our lives," he said.
We now have a US President who likes our country and understands our post-Brexit values.
The election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of America is a victory that shocked the US establishment considering the outspoken billionaire has never held political office.
It also came after a brutal and divisive campaign in which he up-ended virtually every political norm that exists in US politics - from threatening to build a wall against America's closest neighbour to calling the system "rigged" and saying he would "lock up" his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
But his unscripted comments and wildcard nature formed part of the appeal for voters - many of whom voted for him based on the fact he was not one of "those" establishment politicians.
Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said their team "outworked them, and frankly, we outsmarted and outclassed them in some cases," when asked about how they beat the Clinton camp.
She told CNN that Trump "did a great job sealing the deal" and there was "no substitute for a great candidate".
She also urged Trump's opponents to "lay down their verbal firearms".
Russian President Vladimir Putin is happy with the result. Photo / AP
"Give him a chance as your president-elect like we all did with President Obama and we all did with President Bill Clinton," she said.
Now, Trump faces the hugely difficult task of reconciling his bombastic campaign rhetoric with the realities of political office.
His first speech as leader saw him strike a conciliatory tone and thank Hillary Clinton for her "hard work" in sharp contrast to the "lock her up" he voiced at debates.
President-elect Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech during his election night rally. Photo / AP
"Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitue for her service for our country," he said.
"It's time for America to bind the wounds of division ... I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It's time."
That departure from his earlier stances sparked alarm among some of his biggest fans. Ex-KKK Grand Wizard David Duke said he was "getting a lot of emails and messages freaking out over Trumps acceptance speech" but warned the "Make America Great Again (MAGA) army" that "he has no power - YET."
