Vladimir Putin sends Donald Trump congratulations as US allies stay silent

Russian president Vladimir Putin today became the first world leader to congratulate Donald Trump but there was a “stunning silence” from US allies such as Germany and France.

German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president François Hollande both ignored diplomatic niceties by failing to quickly welcome Mr Trump’s victory. The BBC reported that “international reaction was strangely muted” and a “stunning silence”. But far-Right politicians in France and Holland, and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, swiftly sent congratulations.

Hours before the final result was known, French anti-immigration politician and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen tweeted: “American people, free!” Her chief strategist from her National Front party, Florian Philippot, wrote: “Their world is crumbling. Ours is being built.”

Mr Farage compared Mr Trump’s election to Brexit, tweeting: “I hand over the mantle to @RealDonaldTrump!” Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders called his win “a revolution”.

Friendly relationship: Nigel Farage and Donald Trump
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

There was applause in Russia’s lower house of parliament when the result was announced. Minutes later, the Kremlin said President Putin had sent a congratulatory telegram expressing “hope for joint work to restore Russian-American relations from their state of crisis, and also to address pressing international issues and search for effective responses to challenges concerning global security”.

As the Mexican peso plummeted, one expert declared the country had effectively declared a national emergency. “It’s Defcon 2,” Mexican analyst Alejandro Hope said. During the presidential race, Mr Trump called Mexican immigrants criminals and “rapists” and threatened to build a wall between the two countries.

Canada’s immigration website crashed as Americans watched Mr Trump take the lead, with a spike in searches for “Canada immigration”, “Canada” and “move to Canada”.

Celebrity Clinton supporters Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Cher burst into tears when Trump’s victory was confirmed, one TV network reported. Perry had been due to sing at a victory party for Mrs Clinton in New York and was with Cher and Lady Gaga when news of her defeat broke. Cher, who had threatened to move to Jupiter if Trump won, tweeted that the “world will never be the same”, adding: “Sad for the young. Will never be more than the toilet.” Lady Gaga called for hope, writing: “Say a prayer America.” Perry earlier called for unity, telling the party crowd: “Tonight, my parents voted for Trump. But you know what? We will still all be sitting at the same table for Thanksgiving.”

The New York Times, however, said the US was now “on a precipice”.

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