With few smiles, European leaders send their congratulations to Trump
Indeed, one of the first congratulations came from Mark Rutte, the new secretary general of the Transatlantic Alliance, whose message stressed that Trump's leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong: ‘I look forward to working with him again to promote peace’.
Most European leaders preferred Kamala Harris to govern the United States for the next four years, but saw Trump as more likely to win. Europeans fully understand that there will be many difficulties with the ‘Trumpist’ vision regarding European security and defence, as well as the world economy and global trade.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also stepped forward to send a message to Trump: ‘Let's work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver results for our citizens. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on both sides of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship’.
In the last quarter, Von der Leyen and her team have been reviewing a list of goods that the European Union (EU) imports from the US to impose tariffs in case Trump takes the first step and raises tariffs on European goods that are exported to the US.
There is already tension, even though Trump has not yet taken office. As a pulse of this nervousness, European markets reacted negatively to the Republican candidate's victory.
On Wednesday, 6 November, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles fell 2.90 %; in France, the CAC-40 fell 0.51 %; the German stock market, with the DAX, was down 1.13 % and the Milan Stock Exchange, the FTSE MIB, fell 1.54 %. The Euro Stoxx 50 index fell by 1.43 %, this indicator groups together the largest capitalisation companies.
The foreign exchange market also showed interesting movements: the dollar appreciated 1.9 % against the euro and also strengthened against all emerging market currencies.
As for the reactions of European leaders, after Trump's victory, French President Emmanuel Macron phoned his German counterpart, Olaf Scholz, to coordinate a series of strategies on security, defence, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and trade policy in the face of Trump's return to the international stage. Macron, during Trump's previous mandate (2017 to 2021), had several frictions derived from the magnate's unilateralist vision.
Nevertheless, Macron has complied with protocol and also congratulated his new triumph: ‘Ready to work together as we have done for four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity’.
He was seconded by German Chancellor Scholz, who sent a message to Trump via his X account: ‘I congratulate you on your election. Germany and the United States will continue to work successfully together for the well-being of both sides of the Atlantic’.
For Germany, the first ‘Trump effect’, which will tend to strengthen far-right ideologies, could lead to the fall of the Scholz government, which is gripped by an economic and political crisis. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) group will be greatly nourished by the new US president's speech.
Another leader who has congratulated the results is the UK prime minister, Labour's Keir Starmer, a politician who is at the antipodes of Trump's ideology.
‘I look forward to working with you in the upcoming years. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and technology, I know that the special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to thrive on both sides of the Atlantic in the years ahead,’ Starmer wrote on X.
As the votes went out for Kamala Harris, the thoughts of most Europeans have been with Ukraine and its fate in the face of the Russian invasion that is three years old next February. Without US money and uncertain whether it will have more weapons, the scenario of resistance against the Russian army is very complicated.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky posted: ‘Just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to promote peace through the strength of #NATO’.
Another leader who has not seen this electoral success as good news is the president of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, who is well aware of Trump's empathy for Morocco, which is a thorny issue for the Iberian country.
In his X account, Sánchez wrote: ‘Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory and your election as 47th president of the United States. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and a strong transatlantic partnership’.
In the neighbouring country, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on social media: ‘Congratulations, President Donald Trump. I pledge to work closely together, in the spirit of the long and strong relationship between Portugal and the United States and with NATO and multilaterally’.
The far right is happy
Far more optimistic were the reactions of far-right politicians: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was more forthcoming.
‘In my name and in the name of the Italian government, I send my warmest congratulations to President Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are sister nations, united by an unbreakable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond that, I am sure, we will now strengthen even more,’ Meloni said.
Of the far-right rulers, Hungarian Prime Minister Víktor Orbán celebrated the most: ‘The greatest comeback in the political history of the United States! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his huge victory - a much-needed victory for the world!’
Equally happy was French lawmaker Marine Le Pen, who aspires to govern her country: ‘I wish Trump every success, after American democracy has clearly expressed itself. A new political era is dawning, one that is expected to bring dialogue and constructive cooperation on the international stage’.
And in the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, prime minister of a coalition government that includes the radical right, congratulated the Republican politician and reached out to him on issues of cooperation.
‘Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in the international context and NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the US and the Netherlands,’ said the Prime Minister.
Other congratulations
The Kremlin, although it took 48 hours, sent a statement reiterating Vladimir Putin's readiness to open negotiations on nuclear disarmament and restore strategic stability.
Meanwhile in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in X that it is the greatest comeback in history: ‘His historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for the United States and a powerful new commitment to the great alliance between Israel and the United States’.
In turn, in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wrote on his X account his heartfelt congratulations to friend Donald Trump: ‘As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Strategic and Global Partnership’.
China also spoke out in the knowledge that trade relations with the US will become more difficult: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying it respects the choice of the American people: ‘We offer our congratulations to Mr Trump on his election’.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, said: ‘China's policy towards the United States is consistent and clear. We view and manage our relations with the United States under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation’.
It has been leaked in local Chinese media that President Xi Jinping spoke to Trump on the phone to personally congratulate him and wish him every success.
Another dignitary who called him was Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia, who in his address reiterated his readiness to strengthen bilateral relations.