Europe’s biggest leaders have rushed to congratulate Donald Trump on his upcoming return to the White House ahead of what is likely to be a fractious four years between the continent and the new U.S. regime. However, Russian president Vladimir Putin wasn’t one of them.Trump won an overwhelming victory in the 2024 presidential race, flipping key swing states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, on his way to the vital 270 electoral votes.In response, Europe’s leaders, many of whom are likely to butt heads with Trump in his second term, were quick to congratulate the Republican candidate on his upcoming return to office. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: “Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”U.K. prime minister Keir Starmer also congratulated Trump on X, saying he looked forward to working with the future president in the years to come. “As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.“From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.” The Trump campaign accused Starmer’s center-left Labour government of “blatant foreign interference” in the U.S. election in October after Labour’s head of operations, Sofia Patel, wrote a LinkedIn post saying 100 staff members had traveled to the States to campaign in battleground states.The U.K. in particular will start on a rocky footing with Trump. The Labour government’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, previously called Trump a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and “a racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer,” and previously vowed to oppose a visit from Trump during his first term in office.Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, wrote: “The EU and the US are more than just allies.“We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.“So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.” The prospect of a Trump presidency has caused alarm in Europe over the economy and security. There is concern that a Trump administration will halt funding for Ukraine’s army in its war with Russia, while Trump regularly criticized Europe’s role in the security bloc NATO and threatened to pull the U.S. out of the group. Both topics have worried Europe amid the strengthening resolve of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Trump has also threatened to implement heavy import tariffs on European goods coming to the U.S. under a “Reciprocal Trade Act,” making trade more expensive for what he called “all the nice European little countries.One leader holding back on his praise for Trump, however, is Russian leader Vladimir Putin himself.Relations between Russia and the US are at an all-time low since the end of the Cold War, with Moscow angered by Western support to Ukraine.“We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.Peskov said that Trump had made some “quite harsh statements” during his campaign, but that he also spoke of “his aspirations for peace on the international arena, about his aspirations to end politics based on continuing old wars.”He added that: “But after victory, preparing to enter the Oval Office, sometimes statements take on a different tone.”Europe’s right rushes to congratulate TrumpWhile Putin held back in giving his congratulations to Trump, Viktor Orbán, the right-wing strongman prime minister of Hungary, was effusive in his praise. Orbán said in October he would pop “several bottles of champagne” in the event of Trump’s election. “The biggest comeback in US political history!” Orbán wrote, echoing the words of Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, in his victory speech. “Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!”Trump called Orbán a “great man” and a “great leader” earlier this year.Likewise, Italy’s right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who has formed a close bond with Trump backer Elon Musk, gave her congratulations to Trump.“On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald #Trump.“Italy and the United States are “sister” nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship.“It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further.“Good work Mr. President.”
