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Donald Trump becomes President: How the world is reacting to the election, from Russia to Israel Donald Trump becomes President: How the world is reacting to the election, from Russia to Israel
(35 minutes later)
As a stunned America reflects on the deep divisions revealed in the country in the hours since Republican candidate Donald Trump won The White House, the rest of the world has begun to react to the unprecedented moment in US political history.  As a stunned America reflects on the deep divisions revealed within the country as Republican candidate Donald Trump won The White House, the rest of the world has begun to react to the unprecedented moment in US political history. 
Front pages talking about a Hillary Clinton win were pulped on Wednesday morning in time zones ahead of the US in Europe and Asia, and a planned party on Tuesday night to celebrate a Trump loss in Mexico City - where Trump is very unpopular thanks to his comments on immigrants and plans to build a wall alnog the border - was cancelled.  Front pages talking about a Hillary Clinton win were pulped on Wednesday morning in time zones ahead of the US in Europe and Asia, and a planned party on Tuesday night to celebrate a Trump loss in Mexico City - where Trump is very unpopular thanks to his comments on immigrants and plans to build a wall along the border - was cancelled. 
Cubans were also dismayed by the result. Mr Trump has promised to reverse the process of normalising relations with the communist-run island kickstarted by Mr Obama after decades of political and economic islolation. Cubans were also dismayed by the result. Mr Trump has promised to reverse the process of normalising relations with the communist-run island kickstarted by Mr Obama after decades of political and economic islolation. 
“We have to respect whatever decision Trump takes but we don’t want him to be president,” Havana resident Lina Osorio said. “We need relations between the two countries… we have more riding on this election than many Americans.”“We have to respect whatever decision Trump takes but we don’t want him to be president,” Havana resident Lina Osorio said. “We need relations between the two countries… we have more riding on this election than many Americans.”
In the political sphere, German Defence Minister Ursula van der Leyen called the result a "huge shock" - but far-right leaders across the world were quick to express delight with the result which snatched the election from the pollsters' predicted victor Hillary Clinton. Leader of the French right-wing National Front, Marine le Pen, offered her congratulations to the president elect and the "free American people". In the political sphere, German Defence Minister Ursula van der Leyen called the result a "huge shock", with a member of the Reichstag's foreign affairs committee warning that "geopolitically we are in a very uncertain situation."
"We're realising now that we have no idea what this American president will do if the voice of anger enters office and the voice of anger becomes the most powerful man in the world," Norbert Roettgen told German radio.
While governments around the world echoed similar concerns, right-wing fringe and nationalist leaders across the world were quick to express delight with the result which snatched the election from the pollsters' predicted victor Hillary Clinton. Leader of the French right-wing National Front, Marine le Pen, offered her congratulations to the president elect and the "free American people".
Pauline Hanson, the leader of Australia’s far right populist One Nation Party, tweeted her wishes to Mr Trump after the pivotal swing state of Florida was called in his favour in the early hours of the morning in the US. “Mr President my door will always be open. Congrats,” she wrote.Pauline Hanson, the leader of Australia’s far right populist One Nation Party, tweeted her wishes to Mr Trump after the pivotal swing state of Florida was called in his favour in the early hours of the morning in the US. “Mr President my door will always be open. Congrats,” she wrote.
Far-right Dutch politician Geert Van Wilders also offered his congratulations preemptively. “The people are taking their country back,” he said, “and so will we.”  Ukip's Nigel Farage - who spoke at Mr Trump's campaign rallies - called the result, alongside the UK's exit from the European Union - part of the "two big political revolutions of 2016." Far-right Dutch politician Geert Van Wilders also offered his congratulations preemptively. “The people are taking their country back,” he said, “and so will we.”  Ukip's Nigel Farage - who spoke at Mr Trump's campaign rallies - called the result, alongside the UK's exit from the European Union - part of the "two big political revolutions of 2016."
In Russia, where many Kremlin officials and media had been drumming up the possibility of electoral fraud and conspiracy theories that would ensure a Ms Clinton win, many politicians were jubilant on Wednesday. In Russia, where many Kremlin officials and media had been drumming up the possibility of electoral fraud and conspiracy theories that would ensure a Ms Clinton win, many politicians were jubilant on Wednesday. 
“I am convinced sanctions [on Russia] will be dropped completely,” Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia’s second largest party, the Communist Party, told state media, predicting that Mr Trump will recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. “I am convinced sanctions [on Russia] will be dropped completely,” Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia’s second largest party, the Communist Party, told state media, predicting that Mr Trump will recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. 
Across the Middle East, the reaction was more muted, with many politicians and pundits previously predicting a bad result for the Arab world no matter who takes over from President Barack Obama in January. Across the Middle East, the reaction was more muted, with many politicians and pundits previously predicting a bad result for the Arab world no matter who takes over from President Barack Obama in January. 
Anti-American Arab world journalist Abdel-Bari Atwan - whom had not entertained high hopes of either candidate - said of Mr Trump that he “does not expect any goodness,” from a man he said is full of “racism, arrogance, and lies.”Anti-American Arab world journalist Abdel-Bari Atwan - whom had not entertained high hopes of either candidate - said of Mr Trump that he “does not expect any goodness,” from a man he said is full of “racism, arrogance, and lies.”
Israel, which follows the US elections more closely than most thanks to its high number of dual citizens, is likely to find a reliable partner in Mr Trump, who has broadly said he will continue current US policy. Israel, which follows the US elections more closely than most thanks to its high number of dual citizens, is likely to find a reliable partner in Mr Trump, who has broadly said he will continue current US policy. Several right wing members of the Knesset from Israel's ruling party Likud welcomed the result. "It appears the American people are tired of hypocrisy and political correctness and prefer straight talk," politician Yakuda Glick said. 
Palestinian analyst Hani Habib said before polls opened that as far as Palestinian interests are concerned, “Any betting on either [candidate] is a losing bet.”Palestinian analyst Hani Habib said before polls opened that as far as Palestinian interests are concerned, “Any betting on either [candidate] is a losing bet.”
Many Syrians, disillusioned by almost six years of war, were also apathetic, although one activist in east Aleppo joked that while George W Bush bought the Middle East al Qaeda and Mr Obama bought Isis, Mr Trump will bring "aliens." Many Syrians, disillusioned by almost six years of war, were also apathetic, although one activist in east Aleppo joked that while George W Bush bought the Middle East al Qaeda and Mr Obama bought Isis, Mr Trump will bring "aliens."
In other electoral results early on Wednesday, the Republican party retained control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate, despite modest Democrat gains, putting the US on the edge of sweeping right-leaning legislative change, and all but guaranteeing the current vacancy on the Supreme Court will go to a conservative justice. In other electoral results early on Wednesday, the Republican party retained control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate, despite modest Democrat gains, putting the US on the edge of sweeping right-leaning legislative change, and all but guaranteeing the current vacancy on the Supreme Court will go to a conservative justice.