Canadians expressed their disbelief on social media Wednesday morning, as they woke up to a world with Donald Trump elected to be the next President of the United States.
The phrase "Oh America" was trending worldwide after the election results rolled in, handing the White House to Trump with a solid victory over opponent Hillary Clinton.
Several Canadians simply tweeted "Oh America, what have you done?" Many others said they felt particularly grateful to live in Canada after the election result. "Hug your Canadian passports a little tighter today," Twitter user Olivia Honas said. "We are the blessed."
I'm especially grateful to live in Canada this morning but still so sad. Oh, America. What have you done?
— Anne Locke (@AnneLocke) November 9, 2016
#RIPAMERICA Canada need to think about building a wall.... Oh America
— JimmyT (@ElHenderz) November 9, 2016
Oh America, I feel so bad for u. What have you done. Canada's Citizenship and Immigration department website has crashed #Election2016
— Space Cadet (@spacecadet2016) November 9, 2016
Canadians also sought to distance themselves from the U.S. with the hashtag #ProudToBeCanadian.
America. I'm sorry for you. #proudtobecanadian #ifyouwantedamericatobegreatagainyouwouldnthavevotedfortrump pic.twitter.com/bFbv95jNYK
— Meagan Duhamel (@mhjd_85) November 9, 2016
Always continue to be a beacon for love, acceptance, tolerance and diversity @Canada.#TruePatriotLove #ProudToBeCanadian pic.twitter.com/xziZ8AWvre
— Great Lakes Beer (@GreatLakesBeer) November 9, 2016
So #proudtobecanadian.We understand what it means to be good people & have elected leaders who reflect the same values. #ImStillWithHer
— Tara Olsvik (@tolsvik) November 9, 2016
After an election campaign in which some Trump opponents threatened to move to Canada if he won, Immigration Canada's website crashed late Tuesday. Many blamed the outage on a possible surge in Americans looking to move north.
Canada's immigration website crashes as Donald Trump's US election lead grows #ElectionNight #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/RrsvascldD
— Jérôme Deiss (@e_influenceur) November 9, 2016
Canada immigration site has crashed again. Oh America what have you done #ElectionNight
— Mel Macnab (@melmacnab) November 9, 2016
ill drink bagged milk everyday just let me in @Canada pic.twitter.com/mtXuLsvubC
— katie (@danytagaryn) November 9, 2016
But as some Americans tweeted their intent to move north, others were only too eager to help push them out. Several ardent Trump supporters said the country would soon be better off without the celebrities and others who had vowed to move to Canada if he won.
List of people who are about to start making excuses about why they haven't moved to Canada yet. #maga #trump pic.twitter.com/zuhvwPQfmX
— (@kickedinyo) November 9, 2016
If your moving to Canada because of Trump I will help you pack.
— Will Baker (@BakertheWill) November 9, 2016
People Saying They'll Move To Canada & Africa Means There Would Be More Jobs, #Trump Is Already Doing Great.#DonaldTrump #ElectionNight
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) November 9, 2016
TRUMP WINS!
— Brandon (@TwittahGod) November 9, 2016
And none of you are moving to Canada, so go back to watching videos of people standing still & talk about votin Kanye in '20 ✌
"I'm moving to Canada if Trump gets elected"
— jord (@bIocks) November 9, 2016
You still live with your parents, you ain't going anywhere. Sit down.
if trump actually wins, the population is going to drop by about 3mil from everyone who tweeted "i stg i'm moving to canada" #ElectionNight
— Ezra Henderson (@Ezra_Henderson) November 9, 2016
You think running away to Canada will save you all.. Trump is just gonna turn us into a parking lot for his jets. @elonmusk I'm in for Mars.
— Nick (@Nick28T) November 9, 2016
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump in a statement on Wednesday morning, emphasizing the close friendship and economic ties between Canada and the United States. "The relationship between our two countries serves as a model for the world," he said in the statement. "Our shared values, deep cultural ties, and strong integrated economies will continue to provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership."
Trudeau doubled down on his message of shared values with a series of tweets, saying that "our common purpose is to build countries where everyone has a fair chance to succeed, and where the government works first, foremost and always for the people it governs."
Our shared values are strong. Our common purpose is to build countries where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. (...)
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016
...and where the government works first, foremost and always for the people it governs.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016
The Canadian government will continue its hard work toward these ends.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016
...and we offer our hand in partnership with our neighbours as friends and allies as they move forward.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016