International Leaders Congratulate President-Elect Trump

Leading up to Election Day, several world leaders expressed a distrust in presidential candidate and now President-Elect Donald Trump. Following Election Day though, several leaders set aside their ideological differences in interest of maintaining their relationship with the United States. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto didn’t offer congratulations to Trump but he did say he hopes to work together to create a strong U.S.-Mexico relationship. Other world leaders, including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, offered advice to the American public on how to proceed. Ki-Moon reminded the American people that “it is worth recalling and reaffirming that the unity in diversity of the United States is one of the country’s greatest strengths. I encourage all Americans to stay true to that spirit.”

International media had a more visceral reaction to the election results. Political cartoonists had a field day on Wednesday, depicting Trump as a meteor, bull in a China shop, boxer that had beat up American democracy, and more in their cartoons.

As the world tries to anticipate how U.S. foreign relations will change come Jan. 20, politicians try to keep their responses measured and respectful, while the media and international citizens allow their true feelings to shine through. Whether each country’s people and leaders are pro- or anti-Trump, one thing is certain: the next four years will redefine international communications and policy in ways we can’t fully predict anymore.