How world leaders reacted to Donald Trump’s electoral victory
From left: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Indian PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
What you need to know:
- Trump claimed victory in the race an hour after Fox News projected he had defeated Kamala Harris.
- His win also surprises pundits who had declared him politically dead after losing elections in 2020.
World leaders have sent congratulatory messages to Donald Trump after he won the US presidential race.
Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed, UK colleague Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian PM Narendra Modi were among the first to share their congratulations.
“I look forward to working with you. We stand shoulder to should in the defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” Starmer said.
Abiy said he looks forward to working with the US “to further strengthen the relationship between our countries during your term”.
For Ethiopia, the Trump Presidency could yield a new page, following tricky ties as Washington pushed for a solution over the Tigray war. The war ended in 2022 when the AU mediated a solution between the government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The US and Addis Ababa then bickered over claims of theft of food aid.
Trump saw Addis Ababa as a bully, especially during his first term (2016-2020) when he sided with Egypt in the dispute over the Nile waters.
Egyptian President Abdelfatah al-Sisi sent a message to Trump.
“I congratulate President-Elect Donald Trump. I wish him the best of luck and success in achieving the interests of the American people. I look forward to together establish peace and maintain regional stability and bolster strategic ties between Egypt and the United States.”
Trump claimed victory in the race an hour after Fox News projected he had defeated Kamala Harris. At a gathering in Florida, Trump spoke of his comeback as powerful.
His win also surprises pundits who had declared him politically dead after losing elections in 2020, and then faced several charges.
Eyes are on how he upends or maintains President Joe Biden’s policies.
Aice Hill, fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and member of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group in the US, said Trump’s victory presents an obstacle in the fight against climate change.
“Under his leadership, the US will almost certainly step back from global and domestic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increasing fossil fuel production,” she said.
Trump has argued the US would not send money to multinational organisations unless other countries pay their fair share of the obligations.
Macron said France “will be “ready to work together as we did for four years...for peace and prosperity”
For Modi, Trump’s victory offers a chance to build on the successes of his previous term.
“I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” the Indian PM said.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also posted his excitement on X.
“Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu said.
Among those who posted congratulatory messages on X were Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, the President of Turkiye Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, NATO Secretary-Genral Mark Rutte, Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-Te, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen.
