The European Union accepted Donald Trump’s victory with dismay. Although it is a more than plausible scenario that we have been preparing for for some time, the entry into the race for Vice President Kamala Harris has given hope on the other side of the Atlantic, where it was feared that the return of the populist Republican leader to the White House would restore the worst of his previous mandate: trade war, disorder, incomprehension, withdrawal from multilateral agreements… And now that the elections are over, it has become a reality and European governments are sending him warm congratulations. while the far right is delighted to find one of its own at the head of the great world power.
“The EU and the United States are more than just allies. We are united by a true partnership between our people, bringing together 800 million citizens. So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that continues to deliver results for them,” wrote on the social network . in his team to prepare the consequences of the elections in the United States.
Von der Leyen’s statement, however, contains a warning about maintaining good relations between the world’s two largest trading partners: “Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on both sides of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and the stability of our economic relations. »
What was expected of Harris was essentially a continuation of the policies of Joe Biden, with whom ties resumed after four years of complicated relations during Trump’s first term. His return sets off all the alarms because of the possibility that he will impose generic tariffs on the EU, which would deal a major blow to European finances. And in geopolitical terms, the big concern is what might happen with support for Ukraine. Trump, who is not exactly on good terms with Volodymyr Zelensky, has always said he would end this war. The big unknown is how and at what cost.
French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first to respond by congratulating Trump. “Ready to work together, as we did for four years. With your beliefs and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” he said, by “cooperating with the United States and defending European interests and values.” Trump’s victory comes precisely at a time when the leaders of the Franco-German axis are in difficulty due to the crisis of the tripartite coalition in Berlin, which is not recovering, and the defeat of the liberals in the French legislative elections. .
The discreet congratulations continued, like that of Pedro Sánchez, who limited himself to congratulating him and highlighting the work on “strategic bilateral relations and a stronger transatlantic association”.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, was more categorical in sending her “sincere congratulations” to the president-elect. “Italy and the United States are “brotherly” nations, united by an unbreakable alliance, common values and historic friendship. This is a strategic link that, I am sure, we will now strengthen even further,” he also expressed through this social network.
Orbán: “A necessary victory for the world”
Far-right leaders gloried in Trump’s victory. The one who did it most explicitly was the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who was the one who maintained during this period the most intense relations with the former president, whom he met during his trip to the United States to participate in the NATO summit. Orbán included the Republican in the appointments of what he himself called a “peace mission” which took him to kyiv, Moscow and Beijing at the start of the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU and which pissed off the rest of the European partners.
Trump’s victory came the day before Orbán received the rest of the EU leaders in Budapest, for the European Political Community and informal European Council. Among them is Zelensky, who is the one who most fears the loss of support for Ukraine from the new tenant of the White House.
“The greatest comeback in American political history!” Congratulations to President Trump on his huge victory. A much-needed victory for the world! », celebrated Orbán in X, who assured that he would open a bottle of champagne if the Republican won the elections. This Thursday he will have the opportunity to do so during a dinner in which he will host the rest of the EU leaders and in which it is expected, precisely, that they will analyze the relationship with the United States after the elections.
The leader of the Spanish far right, Santiago Abascal, echoed this same sentiment. “It’s the time of the patriots. “It’s time for freedom,” he said in a message accompanied by a photo with Trump. Less energetic is her French ally, Marine Le Pen, who of course stressed that the Americans chose “freely”: “This new political era which is opening must contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations and the search for dialogue. and constructive cooperation on the international scene.
