The likelihood of Donald Trump becoming the next American president has attracted much interest in the region, with at least two questions asked at two different events on Friday (June 3).

Asked about Mr Trump, United States Senator John McCain said the rise of the controversial businessman showed many Americans are very unhappy about the slow recovery from the 2008 recession, with many blue-collar workers “who see no prospect of a job…because they are overtaken by technology”.

“There is a feeling that Congress and the President don’t represent them, and I will argue that that’s given rise to the Trump and Sanders movements,” said Sen McCain, who gave a lecture about American commitment to security and prosperity in Asia at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.