From Cheers to Caution, World Leaders React to Trump Victory
French President François Hollande said the result "opens a period of uncertainty."
As shock waves went global over Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton, world leaders on Wednesday offered their takes on the outcome, which has the potential to "upend the international order."
While offering his congratulations, French President Francois Hollande said the result "opens a period of uncertainty." He said that "certain positions taken by Donald Trump during the American campaign must be confronted with the values and interests we share with the United States." He added that "what is at stake is peace, the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East. It is economic relations and the preservation of the planet."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Agence France-Presse reports,
referenced some of [the president-elect's] most controversial remarks in reminding Trump of his responsibilities: "Germany and America share the values of democracy, freedom, respect for the rule of law and human dignity, regardless of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political belief."
Merkel added, "I think we have to face it that American foreign policy will be less predictable for us, and we must be sure that America will be inclined more often to decide alone."
Her remarks, Huffington Post writes, "are likely issued as a pointed warning to Trump, who has called for all 1.6 billion members of a religion to be banned from the U.S. to prevent terror attacks."
In the U.K., "where Trump's victory had echoes of last June's referendum in which voters showed dissatisfaction with the political establishment by voting to leave European Union," Reuters writes, Prime Minister Theresa May, who shuttered her government's climate change office, stated that she looks forward to working with the Republican and that their two countries will "remain strong and close partners on trade, security, and defense."
As for reaction in Greece, AFP reports: "A source close to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted to being 'worried about the questions of respect for human rights and minority rights' in the U.S.."
Addressing the fate of the nuclear deal Iran and world powers agreed to in 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the accord "cannot be overturned by one government's decision." Trump previously said his "number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran."
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to Trump's win saying the real estate mogul is "a true friend of the State of Israel," while Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett said he hoped a Trump presidency would mean that "[t]he era of the Palestinian state is over."
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Trump, saying the win could help build "a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and real consideration for each other's position."
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hoped to "take India-U.S. bilateral ties to a new height."
In Japan, where residents expressed "worry" over the upcoming administration and the Nikkei stock index plummeted, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe--who's pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal Trump campaigned against--said, "Japan and the United States are unwavering allies, firmly bound by the bonds of our universal values--freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law."
Among those offering warm praise were noted anti-migrant officials in Europe.
Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously called migrants "poison," wrote on his Facebook page that Trump's win was "great news. Democracy is still alive."
Czeck President President Milos Zeman--who previously declared that "integration of the Muslim community [in Western Europe] is practically impossible"--said he was "very happy" about Trump's win, adding that he "agree[s] with his opinions on migration as well as the fight against Islamic terrorism" and appreciates Trump's avoidance of "political correctness."
Marine Le Pen, head of France's Front National, tweeted, "Congratulations to the new President of the U.S., Donald Trump, and the American people--free!" while the party's vice president, Florian Philippot, tweeted a photo of Le Pen and stated, "Their world is collapsing. Ours is being built."
Taking stock of what a Trump presidency could mean, one Irish observer writes, "This is a New Frontier indeed."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
As shock waves went global over Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton, world leaders on Wednesday offered their takes on the outcome, which has the potential to "upend the international order."
While offering his congratulations, French President Francois Hollande said the result "opens a period of uncertainty." He said that "certain positions taken by Donald Trump during the American campaign must be confronted with the values and interests we share with the United States." He added that "what is at stake is peace, the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East. It is economic relations and the preservation of the planet."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Agence France-Presse reports,
referenced some of [the president-elect's] most controversial remarks in reminding Trump of his responsibilities: "Germany and America share the values of democracy, freedom, respect for the rule of law and human dignity, regardless of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political belief."
Merkel added, "I think we have to face it that American foreign policy will be less predictable for us, and we must be sure that America will be inclined more often to decide alone."
Her remarks, Huffington Post writes, "are likely issued as a pointed warning to Trump, who has called for all 1.6 billion members of a religion to be banned from the U.S. to prevent terror attacks."
In the U.K., "where Trump's victory had echoes of last June's referendum in which voters showed dissatisfaction with the political establishment by voting to leave European Union," Reuters writes, Prime Minister Theresa May, who shuttered her government's climate change office, stated that she looks forward to working with the Republican and that their two countries will "remain strong and close partners on trade, security, and defense."
As for reaction in Greece, AFP reports: "A source close to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted to being 'worried about the questions of respect for human rights and minority rights' in the U.S.."
Addressing the fate of the nuclear deal Iran and world powers agreed to in 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the accord "cannot be overturned by one government's decision." Trump previously said his "number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran."
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to Trump's win saying the real estate mogul is "a true friend of the State of Israel," while Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett said he hoped a Trump presidency would mean that "[t]he era of the Palestinian state is over."
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Trump, saying the win could help build "a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and real consideration for each other's position."
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hoped to "take India-U.S. bilateral ties to a new height."
In Japan, where residents expressed "worry" over the upcoming administration and the Nikkei stock index plummeted, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe--who's pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal Trump campaigned against--said, "Japan and the United States are unwavering allies, firmly bound by the bonds of our universal values--freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law."
Among those offering warm praise were noted anti-migrant officials in Europe.
Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously called migrants "poison," wrote on his Facebook page that Trump's win was "great news. Democracy is still alive."
Czeck President President Milos Zeman--who previously declared that "integration of the Muslim community [in Western Europe] is practically impossible"--said he was "very happy" about Trump's win, adding that he "agree[s] with his opinions on migration as well as the fight against Islamic terrorism" and appreciates Trump's avoidance of "political correctness."
Marine Le Pen, head of France's Front National, tweeted, "Congratulations to the new President of the U.S., Donald Trump, and the American people--free!" while the party's vice president, Florian Philippot, tweeted a photo of Le Pen and stated, "Their world is collapsing. Ours is being built."
Taking stock of what a Trump presidency could mean, one Irish observer writes, "This is a New Frontier indeed."
As shock waves went global over Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton, world leaders on Wednesday offered their takes on the outcome, which has the potential to "upend the international order."
While offering his congratulations, French President Francois Hollande said the result "opens a period of uncertainty." He said that "certain positions taken by Donald Trump during the American campaign must be confronted with the values and interests we share with the United States." He added that "what is at stake is peace, the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East. It is economic relations and the preservation of the planet."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Agence France-Presse reports,
referenced some of [the president-elect's] most controversial remarks in reminding Trump of his responsibilities: "Germany and America share the values of democracy, freedom, respect for the rule of law and human dignity, regardless of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political belief."
Merkel added, "I think we have to face it that American foreign policy will be less predictable for us, and we must be sure that America will be inclined more often to decide alone."
Her remarks, Huffington Post writes, "are likely issued as a pointed warning to Trump, who has called for all 1.6 billion members of a religion to be banned from the U.S. to prevent terror attacks."
In the U.K., "where Trump's victory had echoes of last June's referendum in which voters showed dissatisfaction with the political establishment by voting to leave European Union," Reuters writes, Prime Minister Theresa May, who shuttered her government's climate change office, stated that she looks forward to working with the Republican and that their two countries will "remain strong and close partners on trade, security, and defense."
As for reaction in Greece, AFP reports: "A source close to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted to being 'worried about the questions of respect for human rights and minority rights' in the U.S.."
Addressing the fate of the nuclear deal Iran and world powers agreed to in 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the accord "cannot be overturned by one government's decision." Trump previously said his "number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran."
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to Trump's win saying the real estate mogul is "a true friend of the State of Israel," while Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett said he hoped a Trump presidency would mean that "[t]he era of the Palestinian state is over."
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Trump, saying the win could help build "a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and real consideration for each other's position."
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hoped to "take India-U.S. bilateral ties to a new height."
In Japan, where residents expressed "worry" over the upcoming administration and the Nikkei stock index plummeted, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe--who's pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal Trump campaigned against--said, "Japan and the United States are unwavering allies, firmly bound by the bonds of our universal values--freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law."
Among those offering warm praise were noted anti-migrant officials in Europe.
Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously called migrants "poison," wrote on his Facebook page that Trump's win was "great news. Democracy is still alive."
Czeck President President Milos Zeman--who previously declared that "integration of the Muslim community [in Western Europe] is practically impossible"--said he was "very happy" about Trump's win, adding that he "agree[s] with his opinions on migration as well as the fight against Islamic terrorism" and appreciates Trump's avoidance of "political correctness."
Marine Le Pen, head of France's Front National, tweeted, "Congratulations to the new President of the U.S., Donald Trump, and the American people--free!" while the party's vice president, Florian Philippot, tweeted a photo of Le Pen and stated, "Their world is collapsing. Ours is being built."
Taking stock of what a Trump presidency could mean, one Irish observer writes, "This is a New Frontier indeed."