Donald Trump has a notorious and prickly relationship with the media.

Today, US newspapers – and outlets around the world – are asking themselves how they got it so wrong – failing to correctly read the mood of America, and underestimating the pulling power of The Don.

Many though, are not making any attempts at reconciliation.

THE SUN:
'D'oh!'#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers (via @hendopolis)pic.twitter.com/SyEtOyLT8o

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) November 9, 2016

The New York Times, one of the world’s most respected news outlets, had spectacularly predicted a 90 per cent probability of Ms Clinton taking office.

The paper highlighted the shock felt around New York City on its front page.

The front page of The New York Times, Nov. 9, 2016.

Follow https://t.co/eMyFEYiHno for live updates. pic.twitter.com/zmbtVvir7j

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 9, 2016

A number of outlets made light of the win, the Sun Times drawing on Mr Trump’s past life as a reality TV star.

You're Hired – Chicago Sun Times' Trump front page today: pic.twitter.com/fjVgGJnKDY

— Bryce Edwards (@bryce_edwards) November 9, 2016

TOMORROW'S FRONT PAGE: TRUMP'S WIN MEANS NOTHING FOR US AND OUR WEATHER …. IT'S STILL FARKING HOT pic.twitter.com/AyzxLPaZwt

— The NT News (@TheNTNews) November 9, 2016

Our front page for Wednesday:
HOUSE OF HORRORS: Trump seizes Divided States of America https://t.co/KKePm7uBhV #ElectionNight pic.twitter.com/HcuYeizg3j

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) November 9, 2016

Columnists are already piling on.

The New Yorker called it “An American Tragedy”.

David Remnick wrote: “The election of Donald Trump to the Presidency is nothing less than a tragedy for the American republic, a tragedy for the Constitution, and a triumph for the forces, at home and abroad, of nativism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism.

Fascism is not our future—it cannot be; we cannot allow it to be so—but this is surely the way fascism can begin. https://t.co/G8wecPZO3v pic.twitter.com/EDvpjstTiC

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) November 9, 2016

“Trump’s shocking victory, his ascension to the Presidency, is a sickening event in the history of the United States and liberal democracy. On January 20, 2017, we will bid farewell to the first African-American President—a man of integrity, dignity, and generous spirit—and witness the inauguration of a con who did little to spurn endorsement by forces of xenophobia and white supremacy,” Remnick said.

“It is impossible to react to this moment with anything less than revulsion and profound anxiety.”

The Guardian UK made it clear with a headline “The US has elected its most dangerous leader. We all have plenty to fear.”

Jonathan Freedland wrote: “The people of America have stepped into the abyss. The new president elect is an unstable bigot, sexual predator and compulsive liar; he is capable of anything.”

How do I tell my daughter that America elected a racist, sexist bully? https://t.co/Jiof4fsaLp

— The Guardian (@guardian) November 9, 2016

The Huffington Post asked, “What Do We Tell The Children?”

“Tell them, first, that we will protect them. Tell them that we have democratic processes in the U.S. that make it impossible for one mean person to do too much damage. Tell them that we will protect those democratic processes ― and we will use them ― so that Trump is unable to act on many of the false promises he made during his campaign.”

The Economist said: “The near-term economic effect of a Trump presidency is perhaps not of foremost concern to vulnerable racial and religious minorities in America, or to nervous Nato allies in eastern Europe. But the economic consequences of Mr Trump’s presidency could be enormous, and costly.”

In Wellington, the editor of the Dominion Post was blunt.

You are all thinking it. Dompost front page today. pic.twitter.com/qrtopTHcdQ

— Bernadette Courtney (@dpcourtney) November 9, 2016

And The Daily Telegraph thought the same.

I have never seen a more apt front page. Tomorrow's @dailytelegraph tonight… pic.twitter.com/cGlNv04clu

— Laura Banks (@laurakatebanks) November 9, 2016

And jokes were in short supply as US late night shows hosted special programs on election night.

The Late Show‘s Stephen Colbert, visibly startled by the news, asked: “How did our politics get so poisonous?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m2valF3s84

Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show special arrived with the subtitle Democalypse 2016 and the host was suitably scared.

“It feels like the end of the world,” he said.