Many world leaders express hope, relief after Biden win
World leaders congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his victory, cheering it as an opportunity to fortify global democracy and celebrating the significance of Americans having their first female vice president.
Although President Donald Trump did not concede defeat, relief was a common theme expressed in many parts of the world to the news that his reelection bid had failed.
“The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @ JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!” said French President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter.
Other leaders who sent congratulations included
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
The president of Ukraine, whose country was central to Trump’s impeachment and an attempt by the Trump campaign to paint Biden and his family as corrupt, o ered congratulations.
Most Western allies quickly welcomed a fresh start with a new administration in Washington.
“We’re looking forward to working with the next U.S. government,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter. “We want to work in our cooperation for a new trans-Atlantic beginning, a New Deal.”
Word of the victory in Pennsylvania that pushed Barack Obama’s former vice president past the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed to take over the Oval Office cascaded around the globe on social media and live news broadcasts, sparking celebrations.
The was no immediate o cial reaction from China, which has a series of conflicts with the Trump administration over trade, security and technology. But social media users welcomed the change. A posting on the popular Sina Weibo microblog service, signed Gong Teng Xin Yi, said, “Congratulating Biden, the old friend of Chinese people on winning the election.”
President Tsai Ing-wen of rival Taiwan, the democratic island claimed by the communist Beijing government as part of its territory, congratulated Biden and Harris. Taiwan has no official relations with Washington but the Trump administration strengthened informal ties by sending Cabinet officials to visit, which irritated Beijing.