Former NZ ambassador to the United States Tim Groser says Donald Trump's presidential win can be attributed in a large part to the middle class "being screwed". 

"The Democrats have become the party of the rich. If you take the top 25 districts in terms of wealth, 24 of them are held by democrats."

Groser, also a former Trade Minister, told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills that Trump will move in the direction of tariffs which would impact New Zealand. 

"He's been consistent on one thing since the 1980s. He's a protectionist. You can be pretty damn sure he will move in that direction, that cannot possibly be in New Zealand's interests as a small, vulnerable trading nation." 

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