How Foreign Leaders and Officials are Reacting to Trump's Election

How Foreign Leaders and Officials are Reacting to Trump's Election

by Whitney Ahn

          Harjit Sajjan, the Canadian Minister of National Defence, said he was "looking forward" to Donald Trump's inauguration, something commonly said about most new President-elects by foreign officials. However, Donald Trump is not most President-elects.

          Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, offered a mixed tone, saying she'd be willing to work with Donald Trump because German-American relations are essential to her country. The deputy chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, however, was far more blunt, saying that "Trump is a trailblazer of a new authoritarian and chauvinist international movement."

          Another international major figure, former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqan, has also come out with negativity. Today at the Halifax International Security Forum, said of anti-Muslim rhetoric that "harm has already been done... people who like me can't help you."

          Similarly to Merkel, Federica Mogherini (the European Union's foreign affairs chief) tweeted her reaction to Trump's victory: "EU-US ties are deeper than any change in politics." This implies that she has some fears that Trump will cause a major shift regarding American politics towards Europe. Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, called Trump's elect "a protest vote" similar to Brexit.

          NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he was looking forward to working with Trump, but emphasized that "it is important that the transatlantic bond remains strong." Trump has repeatedly called for pulling out of funding for NATO unless other countries agree to pay more.

          Theresa May congratulated Trump on his victory. After Brexit, the UK is trying to maintain positive relationships with as many countries as possible. Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, went in an opposing route, calling for Trump to prove he "will be a president for everyone in modern, multicultural America."

          In France, President François Hollande said that Trump's win "opens up a period of uncertainty." Hollande had previously endorse Secretary Clinton in the presidential race. He emphasized that "certain positions taken by Donald Trump" put many things in jeopardy, saying that "what is at stake is peace, the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East... economic relations, and the preservation of the planet." However, Marine Le Pen, a major opposition figure globally known for her controversial rhetoric regarding ethnic and racial minorities considered offensive by many, has shown the utmost support for Trump. Trump has returned the favor by going so far as to prioritize conversations with Le Pen above even talking to the French president, and many other world leaders.

          Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to Trump (yes, they still do that), congratulating him. At a ceremony at the Kremlin, he said that "it's not our fault that Russian-American relations our in such a poor state," but expressed optimism that under Trump, the two nations can come closer. Putin clearly sees an opportunity to connect with Trump, and hopes to increase co-operation between the two. In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko met with the US ambassador on Wednesday, and claimed that he remained optimistic that "the US administration would remain a reliable partner in the struggle for democracy."

          Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, and was extremely enthusiastic about his election. One of his ministers, Naftali Bennett, declared that Trump's victory meant that "the era of a Palestinian state is over." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasaid expressed serious caution but optimism. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Trump's "elections marks the beginning of a new era," and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the election has no impact on Iranian policies.

          Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto expressed a willingness to work with Trump, after being criticized heavily within his country for having dialogues with him while he was still a candidate. Former presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that Mexico is "a free independent, sovereign country," that it is neither a colony nor a protectorate, and that Mexico depends on no foreign government.

          China's President Xi Jinping congratulated Trump, and Lu Kang, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said that they were looking forward to working with him. Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia (the world's largest Muslim nation), said that he "thinks there will be no change." President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, known for mass murders and insulting Barack Obama (he called him a "son of a whore" earlier this year), extended warm congratulations

          Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump, and expressed cautious optimism, a tone that seems to be struck by the vast majority of foreign leaders and officials.

Trying to be Optimistic: The Positives of Donald Trump and The Sun Came Up Today

Trying to be Optimistic:

The Positives of Donald Trump

by Whitney Ahn

Donald Trump is a racist. He is a sexist. He is a homophobe. He is ignorant. He is rude. He is arrogant. He is self-centered. He has no humility. He’s also the next President of the United States. We have to move forward, so unless a coup or impeachment occurs, it’s important to look at the positives of his future presidency. Allegedly, some exist.

Firstly, there’s his character. His arrogance leads to his constant need and desire to show off his strength. Holding all the power, means he will want to show all the power. Perhaps he may end up being too hawkish, but coming off of an Obama presidency, it could provide a neutralizing effect on America’s reputation in the world.
Secondly, there’s his ties to Russia. These make him more willing to work with the Russian government and thusly relationships could see serious improvements. Yes, we may end up subservient to Russia, but we could also end up with a more cordial relationship with the former Soviets.
And... that’s it. That’s all that I can really think of. Let’s all pray we make it through these next four years alive and that Trump doesn’t win re-election.

The Sun Came Up Today

by W.H. Paulson

Well, the sun came up today. Contrary to popular belief, the world didn't end in a roaring tide of fire and eternal brimstone. If you are wondering why and how Donald Trump got elected, there is a reason. If you look at the way the left has treated people in the middle or on the right, it becomes very obvious. Over the past year, the divide between the people that support him and the people that despise him has only grown, primarily because of the left's antiquated ideology that if you're not with them, you’re against them. This divide has shown the vitriolic hatred that the left have towards anyone who doesn't agree with them.

For example, while attending a local Trump rally, I’ve been spit on, cursed at, and had my safety threatened. All that just because I listened to a man speak. After seeing this, I realized why Donald Trump won, because the left gave up any kind of political moderation and tolerance. Instead, it has transformed from a party of understanding and compassion into a group of marxists and fascists.

The new left now believes that if you disagree with them, you are part of the problem. This hatred of differing beliefs is the reason why things like Brexit and Duterte have happened, and is why the radical right in France will be elected next year. People are sick and tired of being called a homophobe, a racist, and a bigot because they have differing opinions. This is the reason Donald won; people are sick of being hated for their beliefs. I think that we as Americans we have lost all hope in humanity. If we have faith in one thing only, at least let it be that.