Around the world many politicians responded to the election of Donald Trump to the highest office on Wednesday, sending congratulations – but they also waited. Some politicians were shocked. Especially euphoric were the right wing populists and extremists, on both sides of the Atlantic.

US President Barack Obama has congratulated his successor for the electoral victory. Both are set to meet on Thursday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump on Wednesday morning, saying: “The relationship between our two countries serves as a model for the world. Our shared values, deep cultural ties, and strong integrated economies will continue to provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership.”

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto called the U.S. and Mexico friends that “should continue to work together for the competitiveness and development of North America.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped ties could improve from their current “critical condition”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump on the upcoming presidency and declared him a “true friend of Israel”. Together, “new heights” will be achieved in the Israeli-American relationship.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China will work with the new U.S. president to ensure the steady and sound development of bilateral ties.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Trump on the election and offered close cooperation. “Based on our values, I offer the future President of the United States, Donald Trump, close cooperation.” Merkel said in Berlin on Wednesday.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he hoped for “rational cooperation” with Trump after a bitter political campaign. “Mr. Trump has managed to become the standard-bearer of the angst and fears of millions of Americans. Those concerns must now be addressed with credible policies,” Schulz said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he looks forward to meeting Trump soon and will welcome him to the next NATO summit in Brussels in 2017.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has congratulated the newly elected US President with all his heart. “Congratulations, what great news, democracy is still alive” he said.

France’s President Francois Hollande has reacted reluctantly to the election. He congratulated him, as he must, diplomatically – but spoke of a period of uncertainty. “We need to find the answers … we need to overcome the fears and remain faithful to our principles, especially democracy and the social model,” says Hollande.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson expressed his opinion on Twitter to Trump’s election. “Congratulations to Donald Trump and I am delighted to be working with his government on global stability and prosperity”

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday in Ankara: “I would openly appeal to the new president that Fethullah Gülen, who lives on the soil of the United States of America, is delivered to our country immediately. We congratulate Mr. Trump and wish him all the best”

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he believes Donald Trump will maintain the current U.S. policy of pressuring North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests. “Trump has indicated that the greatest problem facing the world is the nuclear threat and members of his national security team hold the position that favor’s applying strong pressure against the North,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Trump’s election.

 

The Far Right reacts

Nigel Farage from the right-wing British UKIP congratulated Trump as well. He praised him for his “brave campaign.”

Marine Le Pen, chairman of the right-wing extremist “Front National” in France, congratulated him saying: “Congratulations to the new President of the United States Donald Trump and the free American people!”

Greece’s far right Golden Dawn party celebrated Trump’s victory. A party spokesman called it a victory for ethnically “clean” states. “This was a victory for the forces which oppose globalisation, are fighting illegal migration and are in favour of clean ethnic states, in favour of self-sufficiency in the national economy,” he said in a statement.

David Duke, the head of the right-wing Ku Klux Klan in the USA congratulated Trump in numerous tweets. “This is one of the most exciting moments in my life,” wrote the self-professed racist. “Do not be wrong, our people had a HUGE role in choosing Trump!”