Trump won the U.S. presidential election

As former President Donald Trump prepares to return to his position as head of the most powerful military and largest economy in the world, he has wasted no time in declaring victory in the U.S. S. . world leaders began responding on Wednesday to the prospect of the businessman-turned-politician winning a second term in the White House.

The response to Trump’s election performance began to come in long before the final votes were counted across the United States, ranging from panic from some of America’s closest, generations-old European allies to excitement from Israel’s leader as he fights an expanding, multifront war. A.

Here are some international leaders’ and governments’ reactions to the news of the American public’s apparent rejection of Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party at the polls.

Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister of Israel.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, referring to his election performance as “history’s greatest comeback!”.

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” noted Netanyahu. “This is an enormous triumph!”.

According to a spokesman for Netanyahu later on Wednesday, the Israeli prime minister was one of the first foreign leaders to personally congratulate Trump over the phone.

Netanyahu’s office reported that the two men had “agreed to work together for Israel’s security” and also talked about “the Iranian threat.” The conversation was described as “warm and cordial.”. “.”.

Netanyahu was generally seen as favoring the former U.S. president, even though Trump criticized the Israeli leader’s management of the ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. S. . leader in the United States. S. election. The past year has seen a dramatic increase in tension between Washington and Tel Aviv as President Biden and others have criticized Israel’s strategies in its multifront war with Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East.

The conflict in Gaza was brought on by Hamas’ Oct. More than 43,000 people have died in the Palestinian territory since the terrorist attack of July 7, 2023, in which the militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250, according to the health ministry run by Hamas. Israel has also greatly increased its attacks on Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed ally of Hamas in Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry claims that over 3,000 people have died as a result of the Israeli offensive there.

To no avail, the Biden administration has persisted in calling for cease-fires on both fronts and has demanded more from Israel to lessen the terrible toll that the wars have taken on civilians.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the wartime president of Ukraine, congratulated Trump on Wednesday for an “impressive election victory,” expressing his anticipation for “an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership.”. “..”.

“I remember our excellent September meeting with President Trump, during which we thoroughly examined the Ukraine-U.S. A. In a social media post, Zelenskyy stated that his nation was interested “in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations,” referring to measures to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Victory Plan, and strategic partnership. “..”.

The Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude for President Trump’s dedication to the “peace through strength” strategy in international affairs. “This is the exact idea that has the potential to practically advance just peace in Ukraine. I’m hoping that together, we’ll implement it. “,”.

Regarding Trump’s repeated promises to “quickly” end the nearly three-year conflict that started with Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, Zelenskyy remained silent. His administration and military leaders have expressed increasing apprehension that Trump may drastically cut back on or even stop the massive American military aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

Zelenskyy has issued a warning that the war his nation is fighting may escalate and directly affect Americans if Moscow is permitted to annex Ukrainian territory and the determination of Ukraine’s Western supporters wavers.

As a member of NATO, he told CBS News early this year, “This aggression, and Putin’s army, can come to Europe, and then the citizens of the United States, the soldiers of the United States, will have to protect Europe.”.

Viktor Orbán, the president of Hungary.

One of the few foreign leaders who publicly supported Trump well before the final votes were cast in the U.S. was among the first to congratulate him on Wednesday. S. . Trump’s apparent victory was dubbed “a much needed victory for the World!” by Viktor Orbán, the far-right president of Hungary, who has been accused of undermining the country’s democratic institutions during his decades-long rule of the eastern European nation by expanding his own power and restricting that of the judiciary and civil society organizations.

Orbán congratulated Trump on his “enormous win” and said that he had achieved “the biggest comeback in US political history” in a social media post. “.”.

Orban, who boasts of his close ties to Trump, has become an outsider among European Union leaders by supporting anti-immigrant policies and keeping close ties with President Vladimir Putin in the midst of Russia’s ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

During a speech over the summer, Orbán claimed to have “entered the policy-writing system of President Donald Trump’s team,” with “deep involvement there,” and implied that he had even contributed to the development of Trump’s future statecraft. “,”.

No, not Putin, but Russia.

The state-run RIA Novosti news agency in Russia quoted Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma’s (the country’s parliament) Committee on International Affairs, as saying Wednesday that a Trump victory provided “a chance for a more constructive approach to the Ukrainian conflict.”. “.

Will perspectives on the role of the U.S. change? A. “The Republican team is not going to pour more and more American taxpayers’ money into the furnace of a proxy war against Russia,” Slutsky was quoted as saying, referring to the Ukrainian conflict, which has been driven by the Democratic administration since 2014. Perhaps this is an opportunity for a more positive strategy. “,”.

Slutsky remained silent regarding Trump’s repeated promises to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine if reelected, something that Ukrainian and European leaders worry he might do by stopping America’s massive military aid to Kyiv and pressuring Ukraine to concede Russia’s annexation of large chunks of Ukrainian territory.

However, Slutsky did foresee that if that support is discontinued by the incoming American government, the U. S. -backed Ukrainian government led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be overthrown “within a few months, if not a few days.”. “..”.

President Vladimir Putin, who never supported either candidate during the U.S. S. . process of the election, but whose leadership Trump has previously praised.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, later told reporters in Moscow that he was not aware of any plans for Putin to personally congratulate Trump, declaring the former U. S. The leader had called the U.S. and made “quite harsh statements” about Russia during the campaign. S. . a “hostile nation that is engaged in a conflict with our state both directly and indirectly.”. “.

This position was later echoed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement: “We have no illusions about the elected American President, who is well known in Russia, and the new composition of Congress, where the Republicans are, based on preliminary data, gaining the upper hand…”. No matter their party affiliation, the United States’ ruling political elite upholds anti-Russian sentiments and a policy of “containing Moscow.”. This line is immune to changes in the US domestic political barometer. “..”.

“Once the new Administration’settles’ in the White House, Russia will work with it, firmly defending Russian national interests and focusing on achieving all the goals of the special military operation,” the ministry said. “.

But in his comments, Peskov allowed for any shift in the U. A. stance during Trump’s second term, stating: “Statements can change in tone after a victory and as you get ready to take the Oval Office. “,”.

According to him, it would be “practically impossible” for Trump to harm the United States, and “we will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words.”. S. the fact that their relations with Moscow are “at their lowest point in history.”. “..”.

the Foreign Ministry, China.

“China-U will continue to be viewed and handled by us. S. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Wednesday that the country’s relations should be based on the principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and cooperation for wins. “We applaud Mr. Trump’s election to the presidency and respect the decision made by the American people. “.”.

Xi Jinping did not immediately respond to the public. Trump has frequently called China the U.S. S. adversary, and he has promised to keep up a tit-for-tat tariff dispute with the Asian country.

The U.S. under President Biden. S. . export restrictions to try to protect some sensitive U.S. S. . technology from China, and tensions between Beijing and Washington have escalated recently due to China’s position on Taiwan, the democratically governed island off its east coast that Xi has promised to return to Chinese governance for the first time in roughly 70 years.

The U. S. Trump has never promised to protect Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, despite being required by US law to do so for any military aggression.

Lai Ching-te, president of Taiwan.

“I am confident that the longstanding Taiwan-US partnership, built on shared values and interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability & lead to greater prosperity for us all.” Taiwan President Lai Ching-te gave Trump his “sincere congratulations” on Wednesday. “.”.

If Taiwan, an island off the east coast of China that Beijing claims is Chinese territory but has had its own democratic government for decades, is attacked militarily, the United States is required by domestic law to support it.

In one of the world’s most dangerous military standoffs, Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to retake Taiwan under the control of his Communist Party, even if it means using force. Tension has increased in recent months as Chinese and Taiwanese military aircraft and vessels have frequently entered each other’s territory. S. . In the area, vessels are still engaging in “freedom of navigation” operations.

In the run-up to the election, Trump sidestepped inquiries about whether the U. S. would serve in the White House and support Taiwan in the event that China launched an invasion. In an interview with The Associated Press in July, he stated that Taiwan ought to reimburse the U. S. . more in order to help guarantee its defense.

Sheinbaum, President of Mexico.

Even though the president-elect recently threatened to impose a massive 25 percent tariff on Mexican imports unless her government stops what he called an “onslaught of criminals and drugs” coming across the southern U.S., President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that Trump’s reelection was “no cause for concern” for Mexico. S. . boundary.

Sheinbaum stated, “We are a free, independent, sovereign country and there will be good relations with the United States,” and she suggested that it would be wise to hold off on congratulating the U.S. A. winner of the election before the formal results were declared.

“There is nothing to be alarmed about for any Mexican, including our compatriots in the United States. S. There is no reason to be concerned,” Sheinbaum stated, “for their relatives who are present, for Mexican businesswomen and businessmen.

U. The K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

U. The K. Despite a clear distinction between his own policies and those anticipated of a Trump administration, Prime Minister Keir Starmer made every effort on Wednesday to uphold the etiquette of the iconic “special friendship” between the two countries.

After congratulating Trump “on your historic election victory,” Starmer wrote on social media that he was looking forward to “working with you in the years ahead.”. “.

Starmer, who took office just months ago when Britain’s left-leaning Labour Party won national elections in a landslide after a decade and a half of Conservative Party rule, declared, “As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy, and enterprise.”.

Starmer went on to say, “I am confident that the unique relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom will endure for many years to come on both sides of the Atlantic.”.

President Emmanuel Macron of France.

“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump,” expressed French President Emmanuel Macron in a succinct social media post on Wednesday. “With your convictions and mine,” he said, his administration was “ready to work together” once more, just as it had during Trump’s first term in office. with ambition and with respect. for greater prosperity and tranquility. “.”.

An hour later, however, the French president made another statement that alluded to the worries he and many of his European colleagues are likely to have regarding Trump’s actions regarding foreign import tariffs, America’s future support of Ukraine in the war with Russia, and his dedication to the transatlantic NATO alliance.

After speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Sholz, Macron said in his second tweet that the leaders of the EU’s two largest economies had decided to “work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context.”. by protecting our interests and ideals and working with the United States of America. “,”.

President Mark Rutte of NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte posted on social media, “I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States,” noting that Trump’s “leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong in his post.”. Working with him once more to promote peace via strength through NATO excites me. “.”.

Trump has attacked numerous European NATO members for not allocating at least 2 percent of their national GDP to defense spending.

During and after his first term, Trump publicly criticized his allies’ funding commitments, shocking many of them. He also declared during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would aggressively pursue a policy of calling on allies to increase their defense spending if reelected.

According to Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the Trump campaign, in May, “Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up,” and if reelected, “he will restore peace and rebuild American strength and deterrence on the world stage?”. “,”.

Iran’s citizens and government.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run television network IRIB on Wednesday, Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesman for the Islamic regime in power, was quoted as downplaying the possible significance of Trump’s election win in the context of her nation’s conflict with the West over its nuclear program and support for armed proxy groups in the Middle East.

“The U.S. election. S. We don’t care about the president,” she stated, as per a translation of her comments on state media. “The policies of both the U.S. S. They claimed that Iran was “fixed and do not change with the change of individuals,” and that no matter who was in the White House, there would be no “impact on people’s livelihoods” in Iran.

A massive regime of the United States has destroyed Iran’s economy. A. and international sanctions enforced first for its purported development of nuclear weapons, which the nation disputes, and then for its backing of the U.S. S. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen are examples of designated terror organizations.

When Donald Trump was first elected, he unilaterally withdrew the U.S. A. out of a global nuclear agreement negotiated by his predecessor, which aimed to reduce sanctions while maintaining control over Iran’s atomic production. In contrast, he took a tough stance, reimposing sanctions to the chagrin of America’s European allies who co-signed and mediated the agreement.

Since then, Iran has increased its nuclear program, and this year, there has been growing fear that its support for the so-called proxy groups in the Middle East could spark a full-scale conflict with Israel that could attract the United States. S. as the closest ally of Israel.

Iranians would not be affected, the government said, but the rial, the country’s currency, fell to its lowest level ever on Wednesday.

The rial is currently trading at 703,000 to the dollar, according to traders in Tehran who spoke to The Associated Press, but there may be more changes throughout the day.

According to a resident of the Iranian capital, Trump “will intensify the sanctions,” he told the AP. “.

“Things that are not in our favor will be worse,” student Amir Aghaeian, 22, told the Associated Press. “Our social and economic circumstances will undoubtedly worsen. The nation is about to explode, in my opinion. “,”.

Gaza residents and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority.

President of the Palestinian Authority, which oversees the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, wished Trump luck and congratulated him on his reelection.

“I hope to work with Trump for peace and security in the region,” Abbas wrote in a statement published Wednesday on the Authority’s news agency WAFA’s website. He emphasized the Palestinian people’s dedication to pursuing “freedom, self-determination and statehood, in accordance with international law.”. “.

He addressed Trump, saying, “Under your leadership, we are confident that the United States will support, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and we will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace.”.

Before the U.S. election, the Israel Democracy Institute polled almost two-thirds of Israelis. S. said they thought Trump would be a better American leader for Israel’s interests. In Gaza, where Abbas’ Fatah movement hasn’t had any influence in a long time, people were more concerned with surviving the war than with who would win.

They simply want the bombs to stop dropping, and many were skeptical that a change in U.S. policy would occur, a woman living in the rubble in Gaza told CBS News this week. S. . Leadership may cause that to happen.

Before election day, Firas Abu Firas, a resident of Gaza, stated, “For me, Republicans or Democrats are the same thing.”. “They are two sides of the same coin. “,”.

Hamas responds.

“Palestinians look forward to an immediate cessation of the aggression against our people, especially in Gaza, and look for assistance in achieving their legitimate rights of freedom, independence, and the establishment of their independent self sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Basem Naim, a longtime senior figure in the Hamas regime that ruled over the Palestinian Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years before the group sparked the ongoing war with Israel with its unprecedented terrorist attack more than a year ago, characterized Trump’s reelection as “a private matter for the Americans.”. “.”.

With Israel and Hamas at war, international diplomatic attempts to implement the so-called “two-state solution,” which calls for the creation of an independent state of Palestine alongside Israel, have all but disappeared.

U. S. Most Palestinians saw little hope regardless of who won the U.S. presidency because the current Israeli government is adamantly opposed to the idea of Palestinian statehood, despite the fact that administrations from both sides of the political spectrum have pushed for such a solution to the nearly seven-decade crisis in the heart of the Middle East. S. election. .

Ursula von der Leyen, European Union.

President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, which oversees the European Union bloc, congratulated Trump on Wednesday and reiterated her hope in a short social media post that the U.S. A. and EU might “cooperate on a robust transatlantic agenda that continues to deliver” for people on both sides of the Atlantic.

Donald J. has my sincere congratulations. Donald Trump. There is more to the US and EU than just friendship,” Von der Leyen stated. “Our people, who number 800 million, are united in a genuine partnership. Therefore, let’s collaborate to create a solid transatlantic agenda that continues to benefit them. “.”.

Giorgia Meloni is the premier of Italy.

On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated Trump and praised the “unshakeable” ties between the U.S. A. As well as Italy.

“Italy and the United States are’sister’ countries, bound together by a historic friendship, shared values, and an unbreakable alliance. The far-right leader of Italy wrote in a statement shared on social media, “I am confident that we will now strengthen this strategic bond even more.”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated “my friend Donald Trump” in a social media post.

“I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end,” said the leader of the occasionally tense NATO ally, who has taken a strong stand against Israel’s handling of the ongoing wars with Hamas and Hezbollah. “.”.

Erdogan stated, “I think more will be done to create a more equitable world.”. “I hope that the elections will benefit all of humanity as well as our friendly and allied citizens in the United States. “.”.

At the beginning of the American president’s first term, Trump and Erdogan seemed to get along fairly well.

Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia.

On Wednesday, left-leaning Colombian President Gustavo Petro praised the United States and congratulated Trump. S. He claimed to respect the democratic process, but he also used the occasion to question the president-elect’s promises to shut down the U.S. S. . border to undocumented migrants as impractical.

“The prosperity of southern communities and the lifting of blockades are the only ways to seal the borders,” he stated.

The conversation between the global north and south is still going on, and the reality of the climate collapse will force us to come together for a solution, Petro added, hinting at worries that Trump will steer the largest economy in the world further away from initiatives to combat man-made climate change. “,”.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

Lula, whose real name is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, congratulated Trump on Wednesday “on his election victory and return to the United States presidency.”. “.”.

“Democracy is the voice of the people and must always be respected,” the Brazilian leader, who is currently serving a third term, said after winning a landslide victory over Trump-like far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro last year.

“To achieve greater peace, development, and prosperity, the world needs communication and cooperation. In his tweet, da Silva wished the new administration luck and prosperity.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

After 20 years of U.S. rule, the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan. A. -backed governance, which expressed hope for more friendly relations with Washington with his return to the White House on Wednesday. This comes a year after the first Trump administration signed a peace deal with the group in 2020.

The foreign ministry of the Taliban expressed optimism in a statement that “the incoming U. A. The administration will take a practical approach to guarantee real progress in bilateral ties, enabling both countries to begin a new phase of relations based on reciprocal involvement. “.

The Taliban have not received official U.S. recognition for their rule over Afghanistan. S. . “It is anticipated that Mr. Trump will assume a constructive role in ending the current conflicts in the region & globally, particularly the ongoing brutality & aggression in Gaza & Lebanon,” mentioned Trump’s role in securing the 2020 Doha Agreement peace deal. “.