Indonesians Puzzled Over Trump’s Widening Lead

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in July during a news conference at Trump National Doral in Doral, Florida. Photo: Evan Vucci

JAKARTA — Indonesians on social media are questioning why Americans have voted in big numbers for billionaire Donald Trump, who many in the world’s most populous Muslim country perceive as intolerant and reactionary.

Twitter, Facebook and chatrooms in instant messaging apps are buzzing with speculation about whether Trump would follow through on campaign rhetoric that included a ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

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Some people say that under a Trump administration they fear they’ll be prevented from visiting relatives and friends who live in America or traveling there as tourists.

About 100,000 Indonesians live in the United States.

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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says on national television that his government will work with whoever becomes president.