As world leaders congratulate the president-elect on his victory, we asked people to tell us what his success looks like from where they live

World leaders have begun congratulating Donald Trump on his election win as people around the world anxiously wait to see how their country will engage with the new US president.

The order in which Trump spoke to leaders around the world has sparked speculation as to how he will shape his foreign policy. In the 24 hours after his victory speech, Trump spoke to Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Turkey, India, Japan, Australia and South Korea. The UK’s Theresa May was 11th on the list.

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Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, was the first to have a conversation on how to “foster closer diplomatic ties” with the US. Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, discussed trade, regional security and how to defeat Isis – a key promise in Trump’s election campaign. But although the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, offered support, they labelled his leadership a “period of uncertainty”.

We asked people around the world to tell us what the situation looks like from where they live, how their governments are responding to Trump’s victory and how they think his leadership will affect their lives.



Egypt

‘Egypt and the US will probably grow closer but as citizens we will suffer from Trump’s endorsement of our president’ – Sara, 30, engineer

We live in a police state where students, activists and journalists disappear or are jailed. The Obama administration had been putting pressure on our government to improve human rights and freedom of speech, but I doubt Donald Trump’s administration will do the same. This is evident from our current president’s eagerness to connect with Trump.

I hope he hires a team that understands the complexities of the Middle East. It is evident he doesn't have a clue Sara, Egypt

Both Hillary Clinton and Trump are heavily disliked in the Middle East by Muslims and Arabs. While Trump is openly hostile to Muslims and clueless about the region, Hillary’s policy as secretary of state has been very deliberate and damaging to the region despite her party’s more tolerant and inclusive tone.

Having gone through a very similar election scenario in Egypt in 2012 where both candidates were hated, I was not very surprised by the outcome. The democratic party underestimated Trump’s popularity and the dislike for Hillary. I feel a lot of votes went to Trump out of spite for Hillary, perhaps if a different candidate had gone against Trump the outcome would have been different.

Just like what happened in Egypt, it looks like the American population is now sharply split in half, with each side demonising the other. I think that’s the most dangerous thing that can happen to a country.

Having racist, intolerant people in power might make it easier to challenge them as they are now out in the open, but healing the rifts in society is much harder. I simply hope Trump will become a president for all US citizens, as is his duty, and reign in the hateful extremist tendencies displayed by white Americans.

I hope he hires a competent team that understands the complexities of the situation in the Middle East and worldwide, as it is evident that he does not have a clue.

China

‘Potential trade conflicts ... but he will use his business wisdom to deal with it’ – Boyang, 28, Beijing

I feel great about the result. It’s a tremendous win for the masses; for those who were constantly ignored by political elites in Washington. I like Trump a lot because he knew the real problems of the country rather than just chanting politically correct slogans.

The US is divided now, probably more divided than when I worked there for three years. That happens when you are obsessed with gay rights and minority rights but forget to promote the most basic right of living a better life for the majority.

He will be a great president if he improve some of his rhetoric Boyang, China

The ‘pivot to Asia’ plot and the TPP are now dead. Trump is likely to be a more pragmatic figure than Obama, so Sino-US relations will improve. There’s going to be some trade conflicts if Trump lives up to his word about China, but I believe he will use his business wisdom to deal with it. China will have an easier situation and a stronger influence in the region. A win-win cooperation between these two countries could benefit humankind.

I wish that Trump could be more presidential. He will be a great president if he improves some of his rhetoric. I hope that he can get along with China.

India

‘We have a lot of supporters for Trump mostly from far-right parties’ – Mithun, Kerala

To say the result was shocking would be an understatement. Victory of an alt-right fanatic like Trump, in a country known around the world for its liberal virtues and principles, is something that adds to the swerve of the world to the right. He adds on to the list of rightwing politicians such as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, Vladimir Putin in Russia and of course, Narendra Modi in India. Maybe we are witnessing the gradual transition of the world into a global conflict.

In India, we have a lot of supporters for Trump mostly from far-right parties. It’s another moment of jubilation for them. Maybe the consequences for foreign policy will be beneficial as Trump has publicly shown his admiration for Modi and his way of governance. But his temperamental nature makes Trump truly unpredictable, so we will have to wait and see.

As long as he doesn’t turn rhetoric into reform, I think the world will be safe Mithun, India

In southern India where I’m from, most of the people have a similar opinion to me. But in the northern areas of India – the stomping ground of the ruling rightwing – opinions may differ. The philosophy of Gandhi of a mutual peaceful coexistence, which was even enshrined in our foreign policy until an ideological regime change, is something I firmly believe in, and the rise of a person like Trump is a question mark on existence itself.

The hidden silent majority that is supposed to have created this ruckus may not be as silent as they are portrayed to be. As in every other country, some are always bound to feel victimised during the rule of a government they despise, which could be for racial, religious, cultural or economical reasons. It’s beyond doubt this result was the result of what they call ‘whitelash’ – some sort of racial hate storm against the former government’s policy on immigration, terrorism and the domestic economy.

The election helped me to see what the US truly is. Under the pop culture disguise they have a huge rising tide of rightwing fanatics and a population desperate enough to find hope in them.

Maybe his campaign of rhetoric and hate was a charade to reign in their support. As long as he limits himself to rhetoric and doesn’t dare turn rhetoric into reform, I think the world will be safe.

Argentina

‘One of the few things politicians agreed on was to openly reject Donald Trump’ – James, 21

Donald Trump has been hostile to our countries, so I am not optimistic about having a fluid relationship with the US. His proposals against Latinos make it really difficult to support him.

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Our government made it clear that it supported Hillary Clinton. I am really worried about the impact this will have on our future. Argentina’s society is fragmented politically, as there is a strong division between the actual and former government. But one of the few things politicians agreed on was to openly reject Trump’s speech.

The US now has a president who is racist, xenophobic, sexist, misogynist, who openly supports Guantánamo and illegal torture, who hates minorities, who thinks climate change was invented by China to make US industries less competitive. Seriously, what can go wrong?

Argentina has been always a very progressive nation. We have many problems, but one of our main characteristics is that we are open to different religions or race. Discrimination exists, like everywhere, but here we don’t face integration problems, or at least not like in other parts of the world.

Americans voted for him because he said the things that many of them think. Trump is a clear representation of the average American’s thoughts, and that was decisive, like a kind of dangerous Homer Simpson. It also shows how unhappy they are with the political establishment.

These types of leaders that are spreading around the world are setting in a new era, with policies that I think compromise worldwide security. They are on the rise because of society’s need for an answer to problems, but the only thing they achieve is to deepen and create a more segregated and unfair humanity.

Mexico



‘We have been humiliated in front of the world’ – Flor Aguilera, Mexico City

The power Trump has over us – over our economy, our geography, our perception of our freedom of movement, over the way the world will see us – is terrifying, and he is not even the president yet.

The future deportations of many Mexicans who live and work in the US who send money home, and who contribute tremendously in that way to our economy, will probably send us into an even deeper recession. We have been humiliated in front of the world.

Today we woke up to find the exchange rate at 20.50 pesos (78p) for the dollar. We went from 18.70 per dollar on election day to 20.20 on Thursday and 20.50 on Friday. It’s expected to reach 30 by the end of the year.

We are more than willing to welcome in any American who wishes to make Mexico their home for the next four years – bring your families, come live here, bring your dollars, help us out. We are a friendly, welcoming country with amazing weather, fantastic food, great cities with interesting museums and landmarks and restaurants and cafes. We hope they will seriously consider it. That goes for British people who want to escape the post-Brexit UK.

In our collective imagination, US democracy was something to aspire to. This is something that has changed. The spell has been broken in many ways. We are disappointed. In Mexico, even the least educated among us believe this man to be a baffoon, his ideas to be uninspired and poorly expressed, that his misogyny is worse than any machismo we have ever seen. We made fun of him. We are surprised by how much and how many Americans love him, adore him.

We are now wondering where to turn to for inspiration and what way of life and ideology should now inspire us.

We ask ourselves: ‘Is this America?’

Brazil

‘The US generally does the same thing no matter who’s in charge’ – Alcysio, 27, Rio de Janeiro

The result might have been surprising, but it’s hardly going to change anything in South America. Our government is already pandering to Trump as they would to Hillary. Being subservient and uncritical is all the Temer administration will do, even if the US government starts to deport Brazilians. I hope they freeze out the non-elected Brazilian government and treat it with the insignificance it deserves.

Of course you worry that such an election might make rightwing extremists feel entitled to commit hate crimes. But, on the other hand, the US generally does the same thing no matter who’s in charge.



Republicans voted as usual, it was the others who didn’t bother voting as they feel desinfranchised by the politics that won it. It is something we know quite well in Brazil, too.

This is not someone who’s fit for office. This is someone who needs help Storm, Canada

Canada

‘I could see the relations being much less friendly than they have been lately’ – Storm, 25, Quebec

It’s really hard to know at this point in time how Trump’s presidency will affect Canada. I think it will have a big impact on our economy because the US is our main economic partner; this is where we export the majority of our goods and Trump wants to get rid of Nafta. Our prime minister [Justin Trudeau] said he would work with Trump, but the truth is they have very conflicting views on almost everything, so I could see the relations being much less friendly than they have been lately.

With Trump as president, people all over the globe are in danger. I am scared and I am sad. I’m sad to see so many people showing intolerance, showing hate towards their neighbours. Every Canadian I’ve talked to or who has posted on social media seems to think the same thing.

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The man is xenophobic, misogynist, devoid of common sense or a sense of reality; he thinks he’s better than everyone, jokes about assaulting women, which we know he has; he thinks he’s too smart to file his taxes. This is not someone who’s fit for office. This is someone who needs help.

Germany

‘The biggest concern for Germany and all European nations is how Trump will behave towards Putin’ – Rudolf, 39

If Putin senses weakness or pliability, he will take full advantage and seek to further destabilise Nato and the EU. He will finance populist movements across the EU as well as launching military operations where advantageous to Russian interests. In that case, the EU might need to look to China as its only powerful ally in favour of global stability – a really sad situation.

Another big concern is that the US will tear up its climate change commitments and its rapprochement with Iran. Both would be highly disadvantageous to German and European interests in working towards global conflict reduction.

The overwhelming majority of Germans are worried about the Trump presidency. Americans have pinned their hopes on a strongman-actor who isn’t a politician to fix the precise same neoliberal system that produced him in the first place. That is why both Merkel and the foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have been lukewarm in their reactions to say the least. I am saddened but not surprised after Brexit showed that neoliberal complacency has created a significant percentage of protest voters who wish to destroy the current economic order even without a coherent alternative.

The US is now deeply divided into two camps: the Trump camp that is predominantly white, and the other that has a high percentage of ethnic minorities. That racial divide is deeply worrying.

Portugal

‘The mood here is one of shock and fear for the future’ – William

I know that nationalist parties all across Europe can’t believe their luck. The middle ground has shifted to the right. I hope that moderate leaders take heed and produce a narrative, backed by policies, that is inspiring.

The election, much like the Brexit result, shows how vulnerable democracies are to simple populist arguments when the circumstances are right. In both the US and the UK, the vote was decided by a tranche of voters whose lives have more despair than hope for the future. I am bitterly disappointed with both results, but the leaders on the losing side did not articulate any policies that would give the voters hope for change. They badly misread the mood of the left behinds.

The election, much like the Brexit result, shows how vulnerable democracies are to simple populist arguments William, Portugal

France and Spain

‘In Spain they’re cracking very dark jokes about the end of the world’ – Beatriz

In France, it is only going to encourage supporters of Marine Le Pen in the upcoming elections. In Europe, it is going to make the relationship with the US, UK and Russia that much more tense.



My French friends are trying to keep business as usual and not discuss it. In Spain, they’re cracking very dark jokes about the end of the world but then again, the memory in Spain is longer.

Interestingly enough, regardless of their political convictions, all my acquaintances are horrified that the US has chosen such an inexperienced person and failed businessman because his endeavours have not been stable or profitable for anyone but himself. His language and his lack of control are unacceptable.



I hope he does not influence other world leaders to become more like him or Putin – excessive, dominant and ultimately ineffective heads of repressive countries. I hope that he does not commit nepotism while in the office, but rather use best business practices – although that is very, very unlikely.



I’m preparing for the worst, because really, all the historical and economic signs point to a very, very dark time.