Global leaders congratulate Trump on election win

The leaders of Hungary, Israel, France, India, and other nations have rushed to congratulate Republican candidate Donald Trump on his win in the 2024 US presidential election.

On Wednesday, Trump declared victory over his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, after securing wins in key battleground states. His second presidency will “truly be the golden age of America,” he said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was one of the first to congratulate the Republican candidate on what he called “the biggest comeback in US political history.” Trump will now become only the second US president to serve non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s.

The outcome of the election is “a much-needed victory for the world,” Orban said in a post on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump’s win as “history’s greatest comeback.”

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu wrote on X, assuring Trump of his “true friendship.”

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his readiness “to work together” with Trump “with respect and ambition... for more peace and prosperity,” like he said they did during his first term from 2017 to 2021.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said on X that after Trump’s “impressive election victory,” he is looking forward to “an era of a strong US under… decisive leadership.”

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer,” he wrote on X.

Zelensky expressed hope that bipartisan support for Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia will continue during Trump’s presidency.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated his “friend” Trump on his success, saying he is ready to renew cooperation with him to strengthen the “strategic partnership” between India and the US.

"Let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi wrote on X.

The Kremlin said last month that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not likely congratulate the winner of the election due to the US being “an extremely unfriendly state” towards Russia.