World leaders congratulate Trump on victory in US presidential election

World leaders rushed to congratulate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday after he was projected to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the US election, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

Among those to offer salutes on social media platform X within the first hours of Trump’s apparent victory emerging were the leaders of Britain, France, Ukraine, India, and Israel.

Many noted that the success would be a return to office for Trump, who previously served as president in 2017-2021.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote his congratulations to Trump on “your historic election victory.”

Starmer added that he looked forward to working with Trump and that, “as the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.”

France’s President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X he was “ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in his message, vowed Berlin would work with Trump for “prosperity and freedom.”

In a post on X, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her “most sincere congratulations” to Trump, and said Italy and the United States had an “unshakeable alliance”.

“It is a strategic bond, which I am certain we will now strengthen even further,” she said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine wrote, “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer,” a reference to the ongoing war in his country as it battles a Russian invasion.

The Kremlin reacted cautiously, saying the US was still a hostile state and that time would tell if Trump’s rhetoric on ending the Ukraine war translated into reality.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump had made some important statements about wanting to end the Ukraine war during his campaign, but only time would tell if they led to action.

“Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state [in Ukraine],” Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump on his victory and that relations with Washington were at a historic low.

European Council President Charles Michel wrote that “as allies and friends, the EU looks forward to continuing our constructive cooperation.”

“The EU will pursue its course in line with the strategic agenda as a strong, united, competitive, and sovereign partner while defending the rules-based multilateral system,” Michel said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “history’s greatest comeback” that “offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”

“In true friendship,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

President Isaac Herzog congratulated Trump on his “historic return to the White House,” calling him “a true and dear friend of Israel, and a champion of peace and cooperation in our region.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas congratulated Trump, saying he was “confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.” Abbas, in a statement carried by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, affirms the Palestinian commitment to “the pursuit of freedom, self-determination and statehood, in accordance with international law.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — a bitter Israel critic who got along well with Trump — also congratulated the former US president.

“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,” Erdogan wrote on X. “I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world.”

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his son, de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both congratulated Trump on his election victory, state media reported.

The two leaders sent cables to Trump, who cultivated warm Saudi ties during his first administration, with King Salman hailing “close relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields,” the official Saudi Press Agency said.

From Egypt, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi congratulated Trump and wished 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,” he wrote.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II also congratulated Trump, as did Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Qatari ruler of the Gulf monarchy, a key mediator for a truce and hostage release deal in Gaza and host of the largest US military base in the Middle East, said he looked forward to “working together again… in promoting security and stability both in the region and globally.”

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told AFP that under Trump the United States’s “blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof looked forward to “close cooperation on shared interests,” and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer wrote that his country looks forward “to further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together.”

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close Trump ally, hailed “the biggest comeback in US political history” and “a much needed victory for the World.”

“You made it happen!” Polish President Andrzej Duda posted on X.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also offered his congratulations, as did Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolac, who wrote, “Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens.”

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote of looking forward to working with Trump, as did neighboring Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

From Asia, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump on a “historic election victory,” adding that he was looking forward to working with the vote frontrunner.

“As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration,” he wrote on X.

From El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele congratulated Trump and wrote, “May God bless and guide you.”

Messages also came from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

Without directly mentioning Trump, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing that Bejing hopes for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States.

“We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” she said.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters he hopes to work with Trump “to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights.” South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Trump saying that “under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-US alliance and America will shine brighter.”

Secretary-General of NATO Mark Rutte reported on X: “I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States.”

“His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong,” Rutte wrote of Trump, who has been a strong critic of the alliance. “I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.”

Trump declared victory early Wednesday morning, though the results were not yet final.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he said to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

“We’ve achieved the most incredible political thing, political victory, that our country has never seen before — nothing like this,” he declared.

Trump also shouted out Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, who has become one of his most high-profile supporters. “We have a new star. A star is born: Elon,” Trump said.

In an overnight post to X, Musk wrote, “America is a nation of builders. Soon, you will be free to build.”