International politicians react to President Trump

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World leaders (and UK politicians) have been making their feelings felt on the subject of Donald Trump’s election as the 45th US President.

UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Trump’s election as US President is a rejection of a failed economic consensus, but his answers to the big questions facing America are wrong:

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Other Labour figures – mostly right-wingers – were far more critical of the newly-elected leader-to-be of the Free World, giving their views on LabourList as follows:

Mike Gapes, Labour MP for Ilford South – “As Ukraine, Baltic states and NATO worry about the future, Putin and the FSB will be celebrating their own role in electing a useful idiot.”

Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley Central – “Decent left of centre politics defeated by divisive right wing populism. Repercussions will be felt around the world incl here. Get ready.”

Owen Smith, Labour MP for Pontypridd and former leadership contender – “A racist in The Whitehouse & a human rights abuser in The Kremlin. Time for us to leave Europe, or time to try and lead it & rebuild hope? It’s The Enlightenment that’s in jeopardy, not The Establishment I’m afraid.”

Steve Reed, Labour and Co-op MP for Croydon North – “President Trump, a terrifying day for the world and for everyone who values democracy and freedom.”

Kezia Dudgale, leader of Scottish Labour – “Ctrl + Alt + Delete”.

In a statement Dugdale later added: “Like countless people in Scotland, the UK, and across the globe I watched with great sadness as the results from the presidential election came in.

“While we must all respect the result of this democratic contest, today is a dark day for those of us who believe in compassion, tolerance and equality.

“Donald Trump was responsible for a hate-filled campaign that was dominated by lies, misogyny and racism. As president-elect, he now has a responsibility to America and the world to heal the deep divisions he has caused.

“Across the US, there will be women, gay people and Muslims who will now be incredibly worried about the direction of their country, but there will also be countless working-class Americans who will be hurting today. They all need reassurances that I very much hope will be forthcoming from the Republican Party.”

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley – “When my children wake up I shall tell them that when I was little Thatcher & Reagan were in charge. I’ll tell them things get better.”

This Writer pulled her up for that comment:

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham – “If you have woken up today feeling lost, heartbroken and helpless: Don’t mourn, organise. Don’t give up. They want you to give up. Don’t. Join a political party, a trade union, a community group. Campaign, organise and try to make the world a better place. What choice is there? Just don’t quit and don’t give up. Giving up is what they want you to do. Things can and will get better. But don’t mourn, organise.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

“Mr Putin said he hopes [to] work together to lift Russian-US relations out of the current crisis, resolve issues on the international agenda, [and] look for effective responses to global security challenges, according to the Kremlin.

“The President said he is confident that Moscow and Washington can establish a constructive dialogue based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and genuine consideration for each other’s positions. This would be in the interests of both peoples and of the entire international community.

“Mr Putin wished Mr Trump success in the high office and responsibility of head of state.”

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, had this to say:

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(UK-based left-wing journalist Paul Mason was withering in response: “No elected leader of Europe would pen this obsequious pile of crap. Social-democrats, Greens and the radical left should repudiate letter.”)

It seems clear that the result has been divisive, both in the States and elsewhere.

I wonder whether this could lead to strained diplomatic relations as statespeople struggle to see past their own feelings to reach pragmatic solutions to international problems.

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No Comments

  1. Roland Laycock November 9, 2016 at 4:50 pm - Reply

    The US runs the UK and we do its dirty work for it, GCHQ is virtually a branch office of the NSA. GCHQ helped the NSA by tapping Google’s cables and harvesting vast amounts of personal data according to the Snowden documents. It would be illegal in the USA, but they got the data. GCHQ hacked into the heart of Belgian telecoms at Belgacom, with US co-operation. The NSA even paid GCHQ £100m to keep its data harvesting operations open when their budget was cut.

  2. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) November 9, 2016 at 5:36 pm - Reply

    We can’t do much about the American’s peoples’ choices but we can about our own and now, more than ever, is the time for decent conscientious people to start helping Labour back into power.

  3. yarmouthboy November 9, 2016 at 7:15 pm - Reply

    Trump has got himself elected predominantly by the votes of the white males in America. He is somehow seen as the “John Wayne” of politics, a righter if wrongs, white hats vs. black hats. There is alarm amongst females, Hispanics and Mexicans as to whether his pre-election rhetoric will translate into viable domestic and foreign policies which can be sustained. Whatever, I think that the comments made by our politicians are out of order. We complained when Obama tried to influence our domestic politics by commenting on the Referendum Campaign. Yet we feel able to react negatively to his election success. Democracy is never the perfect answer. But it’s,results must be respected.

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