World reactions as Donald Trump wins US presidential election

After a turbulent and defiant campaign against Kamala Harris, Trump will become the country’s 47th president.

Republican Donald Trump has won the US presidential election in a stunning comeback, The Associated Press news agency reports, with his projected victory in Wisconsin clearing the 270 Electoral votes needed to secure a return to the White House.

Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, before the latest results came in, Trump pledged to bring a “golden age” to the United States, praising what he called “the greatest political movement of all time”.

His Democratic rival Kamala Harris has not conceded and is expected to speak on Thursday.

World leaders rushed to congratulate Trump on Wednesday as votes were still being counted after early projected wins in key battleground states. Here are some reactions:

“Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on social media platform X.

Israel Katz, who was named defence minister on Tuesday after Netanyahu fired Yoav Gallant, said, “Together, we’ll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran”.

Far-right ministers in Netanyahu’s government also celebrated. “Yesssss, God bless Trump,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, “God bless Israel, God bless America.”

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said he looked forward to working with Trump again “in promoting security and stability both in the region and globally”.

The livelihoods of Iranians will not be affected by the US election, government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran.

“The US elections are not really our business. Our policies are steady and don’t change based on individuals. We made the necessary predictions before and there will not be change in people’s livelihoods,” she said.

Trump’s victory puts to test his earlier statements that he can stop the war in Gaza within hours, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Reuters news agency. The Democratic party’s loss is the natural price for its leadership’s “criminal stance” towards Gaza, Abu Zuhri said, adding that “we urge Trump to learn from [US President Joe] Biden’s mistakes.”

Basem Naim, a member of the Palestinian group’s political bureau, told the AFP news agency that the US, under Trump, must end its “blind support” for Israel in the war in Gaza “because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region”.

Israel

“Our policy towards the US is consistent,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news briefing.

“We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists he was unaware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump since the US is an “unfriendly country”.

“We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” Peskov said.

“Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers-on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations,” former President Dmitry Medvedev posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.”

Secretary-General Mark Rutte: “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. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.”

“The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.”

European Council President Charles Michel said the 27-nation bloc and the US “have an enduring alliance and a historic bond. As allies and friends, the EU looks forward to continuing our constructive cooperation.”

President Emmanual Macron wrote on X: “Congratulations, President Donald Trump. 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.”