Australian newspapers have joined the Trump circus today as news of the new US President reached local mastheads, and the battle to print the most controversial headline began.

As the US woke to the news presidential candidate Trump had defeated Clinton in the most publicised White House race in history, Aussie newspapers kicked their printing presses into gear to roll out Trump-emblazoned front pages across the nation.

Several of the country’s biggest mastheads preferred to play it safe, printing full-colour images of Trump with taglines such as The Herald Sun’s ‘shock and awe’ and The Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘revolution’ decorating newsstands.

Other titles, however, opted for more provocative headlines, The Daily Telegraph this morning printing ‘W.T.F’ on its front page, supposedly an acronym for ‘Will Trump Flourish?’, the Newcastle Herald simply publishing ‘Help’ and NT News printing ‘It’s still bloody hot’.

[Related: US printers support Donald Trump]

International mastheads have also taken to the front page to express public shock at the Republican candidate’s victory, with New York-based paper Daily News printed ‘House of Horrors’, one German paper writing ‘Horror clown’ and French publication Liberation publishing ‘Trumpocalypse’.

Despite print death sentences dished out by media giants News Corp and Fairfax, the publishers remained dependant on traditional print and the old-fashioned front page to voice a local perspective on Trump’s victory.

As the front pages flood in, print advocators across the world are also urging people to hold onto today’s print editions with Trump headlines.

Historic newspapers can be collectibles as time wears on, with titles bearing headlines from key moments in history such as 9/11 and JFK’s assassination now having significant  monetary value. 

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter