Leaders around the world who previously spoke out against Donald Trump now face the unenviable task of swallowing their pride and issuing grudging congratulations to the president-elect to ensure continuing good relations with the US.
"I consider Donald Trump a man who invests a lot in a policy of fear," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said back in April. Today Renzi, who openly supported Hillary Clinton, congratulated Trump on his victory. Speaking in Rome he said "I wish him well. The Italo-American friendship is solid," according to Reuters.
READ MORE: ‘Congratulations’ vs ‘shock’: World leaders & politicians react to US election result
Argentina’s Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra commented only days ago that Trump represented a "more closed, isolationist and xenophobic" model in his agenda.
These tough remarks were all but forgotten today when she congratulated Trump in a tweet reading, "Congratulations Donald Trump on being elected as the new president of the United States. The north American people have spoken at the polls. Congratulations to democracy and its institutions.”
In a possible last jab at Trump, Malcorra added another tweet congratulating Clinton, describing her as a “capable woman not being chosen to fulfill such an important responsibility.”
Ireland’s premier, Enda Kenny, may have some explaining to do when he makes his annual St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House next year. In June, when Trump was due to visit Ireland, Kenny claimed he would be “very happy” to meet the presidential candidates to outline why his views are considered racist.
Following Trump’s victory Kenny sent his congratulations to Trump. "I look forward to working with the new administration in the time ahead in the cause of international peace and security.” he said.
Ireland is a haven for major US companies including Google and Apple who avail of its low corporate tax rate. Kenny is sure to push to maintain this relationship, even managing to mention Vice-President-elect Mike Pence’s Irish heritage in his statement to Trump, describing him as “a proud Irish-American who spent many summers in Ireland as a child".
German leader Angela Merkel may not have publically expressed her thoughts on Trump, but given that he accused her of “ruining Germany” we can only imagine how hard it was for her to pen today’s congratulatory words.
“I offer the future president of the United States, Donald Trump, close cooperation.” she said in a statement.
French President François Hollande has shown disgust for Trump before. Earlier this year he said his “excesses end up making you feel like you want to retch,” in the wake of Trump’s comments about the family of Hamayun Khan, a decorated Muslim-American soldier who died in the line of duty. Today Hollande warned that his victory “now opens a period of uncertainty.”
The French ambassador to the US, Gerard Araud, reacted more strongly to news of Trump's electoral victory by tweeting that "a world is collapsing before our eyes". The post was later deleted.
Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted congratulations to the US on it’s decision, adding “Hope that Mexico and United States continue to tighten its ties of cooperation and mutual respect.”