Social media platforms associated with the Islamic State group and al Qaeda have praised Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential elections, calling it the beginning of “dark times” for the country, The Washington Post reported.

“Rejoice with support from Allah, and find glad tidings in the imminent demise of America at the hands of Trump,” said al-Minbar Jihadi Media network, which is affiliated to the Islamic State group. “Trump’s win...will bring the hostility of Muslims against America as a result of his reckless actions, which shows the overt and hidden hatred against them.”

Al-Minbar was among a number of pro-jihadist networks that used to their advantage Trump’s anti-Muslim comments, saying his attempts to ostracise the community would boost their recruitment of fighters from abroad. “Trump will serve as the perfect straw man for the next four years, like [George] Bush did before him,” said an al Qaeda-affiliated Twitter account al-Maqalaat. It added that the Republican’s win would “make the U.S. Enemy No. 1 again” in Muslim-dominated West Asia.

Reactions from other extremists representing jihadist groups included calling Trump’s victory “the beginning of America’s fragmentation and the era of its breakup”, “a powerful slap to those promoting the benefits of democratic mechanisms” and an indication of “the true mentality of Americans and their racism towards Muslims and Arabs”.

A jihadist ideologue with links to the al Qaeda, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, said “He [Trump] reveals what his predecessors used to conceal. So his victory further exposes America and its appendages.”

Trump’s campaign leading the US presidential elections was not without criticism. He drew severe flak for calling for a ban on immigrants and the entry of Muslims to the US, for expressing his support for methods of torture, and especially for his lewd remarks about women.