When Donald Trump won the US presidential election of 2016, many were happy; most people were simply amazed (at America’s remarkably low IQ decision). While cartoonists were free to express their many opinions on the event, World leaders and American Democrats had to be rather more restrained:
His team must have admonished him sternly to stick to the script. He said the right things and to all our surprise, he sounded almost statesman-like.
She is a seasoned politician; it was not unexpected that she would be calm, gracious, restrained as she gave her concession speech. She was also very generous and heartbreakingly dignified.
While the outgoing POTUS was quick to congratulate his successor, Barack Obama displayed his reservations too. He spoke about the significant differences he has with Donald Trump and his politics but spoke about “success in uniting and leading the country” and the “peaceful transition of power” being the hallmark of democracy.
Taking time out of from the currently ongoing demonetization event in the country, Prime Minster Narendra Modi called up Donald Trump to express his congratulations and to say that he looked forward to “working closely to take the India - U.S.A strategic partnership to a new height”.
Prime Minister Theresa May's congratulatory message felicitated Trump on a hard fought campaign and spoke about the UK and the United States “an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise”.
The Prime Minster of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon felt that people would feel “a real sense of anxiety” at Trump's victory and urged the President-Elect to reach out to those who felt marginalized; to be a president to everyone in modern multicultural America.
While François Hollande, the French President congratulated Trump as he knew he must, he seemed less than thrilled. He said that the election result “opens up a period of uncertainty”. As a Clinton supporter, Hollande also spoke about confronting “Certain positions taken by Donald Trump”.
Donald Trump’s self confessed liking for the Russian President and his professed desire to see America and Russia as friends meant that Vladimir Putin's congratulatory message was quite effusive. Putin said that he was looking forward to great relations between the two nations which would be in their mutual interest and would sustain global security.
The offer of support from Chancellor Angela Merkel was conditional. She made it clear that so long as the common values of “democracy, freedom, respect for the law and for human dignity irrespective of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political conviction” were protected, she would offer a close working relationship to the next POTUS.
As Iran and the United States don’t have the most cordial of relations, President Hassan Rouhani said the result would not have any impact on Iran's policies. He said that the election result reflected internal discontent and instability within the US which would take a long time to be solved. How's that for honesty from a leader!
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