International Reaction to Trump’s Inauguration

 US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (AFP)
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International Reaction to Trump’s Inauguration

 US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (AFP)

The following is reaction from global leaders to Donald Trump being sworn in as US president on Monday. 

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT 

"President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority." 

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER 

"I believe that working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights." 

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I also want to thank you for your efforts in helping free Israeli hostages. 

"I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel." 

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TÜRKIYE 

"Since Mr. Trump repeatedly said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war, we as Türkiye will do whatever necessary in this regard. We need to resolve this issue as soon as possible. This issue will be on our agenda with our talks with Mr. Trump, and we would take our steps accordingly. I wish Mr. Trump's second term would bring good for all humanity." 

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR 

"Today President Donald Trump takes office. Congratulations! The US is our closest ally and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship. The EU, with 27 members and more than 400 million people, is a strong union." 

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER 

"Congratulations, President Trump. Canada and the US have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again — to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations." 

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER 

"For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership ... Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity." 

"With President Trump's longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue." 

GIORGIA MELONI, PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY 

"I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the cooperation between Italy and the USA ... Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe, as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of our communities." 

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT 

"Best wishes President @realDonaldTrump, for your tenure as 47th President of the United States. The EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges. Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security. This is the enduring strength of the transatlantic partnership." 

MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL 

"With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defense spending & production. My warm congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration as 47th President of the USA, and to @JDVance as Vice President. Together we can achieve peace through strength - through @NATO." 

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL 

"On behalf of the Brazilian government, I congratulate President Donald Trump on his inauguration. Relations between Brazil and the USA are marked by a history of cooperation, based on mutual respect and a historic friendship. Our countries have strong ties in various areas, such as trade, science, education and culture. I am sure that we can continue to make progress in these and other partnerships." 

CHARLES, BRITAIN’S KING 

The king has sent a personal message of congratulations to President Trump on his inauguration, reflecting on the enduring special relationship between the UK and US, according to Buckingham Palace. 

ULF KRISTERSSON, PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN 

"Warm congratulations @realDonaldTrump on being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Sweden looks forward to continued close cooperation with the US." 

ALEXANDER STUBB, PRESIDENT OF FINLAND 

"I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you @realDonaldTrump as you assume office as the President of the United States. The US is our key strategic partner and ally. I look forward to close cooperation during your term." 

JONAS GAHR STOERE, PRIME MINISTER OF NORWAY 

"I congratulate President Donald Trump. The United States is Norway's most important ally, and there are strong ties between our two nations. I look forward to a good working relationship with President Trump and his new administration," Stoere said in a statement." 

HAMAS OFFICIAL SAMI ABU ZUHRI 

"We are happy with the departure of Biden, who has the blood of Palestinians on his hand. We hope for the end of this dark era that harmed the US before anyone and that Trump can build his policies on balanced foundations that can cut the road against Netanyahu's evils that want to drown the region and the world." 

SYRIA'S DE FACTO LEADER AHMED AHMED AL-SHARAA 

"The past decade has brought immense suffering to Syria, with the conflict devastating our nation and destabilizing the region. We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region". 

TAIWAN PRESIDENT LAI CHING-TE 

"The United States is an important security, economic, and trade partner of Taiwan, and a strong ally that shares the values of democracy and freedom. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the new President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance." 

CUBAN PRESIDENT MIQUEL DIAZ-CANEL 

US President Donald Trump's action of putting the Caribbean nation back on the US' state sponsors of terrorism list was "an act of arrogance and disregard for the truth." 

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA 

"I listened to President Trump's inaugural speech, and I felt that it was 'Make America Great Again' itself. Traditionally, inaugural speech by presidents have been more about setting a tone...I felt very much that it sounded like a continuation of what Mr. Trump had been saying throughout his campaign. President Trump prioritizes bilateral negotiations over multilateral frameworks, so we will focus on how to leverage the national interests of both countries to contribute to world peace and the global economy. We aim to establish a trusting relationship through substantial discussions." 

AUSTRALIA PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE 

"I congratulate President Trump on his inauguration, it is a significant achievement to be elected President of the United States of America, not once but twice now, and I look forward to having a constructive engagement with him." 

SOUTH KOREA'S ACTING PRESIDENT CHOI SANG-MOK 

"The government will strive to further strengthen policy cooperation with the United States and promote mutual interests based on the shared value of the Korea-US alliance," Choi said, citing the alliance's slogan of "We Go Together". 

HONG KONG LEADER JOHN LEE 

Hopes for full efforts with US President Donald Trump to promote positive relations between Washington and the Chinese-ruled city, although "we will always be prepared for the worst". 



Trump Supporters Who Stormed US Capitol Begin to Leave Prison Following Sweeping Pardons

Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder, poses for a portrait after being released last night after spending the past 3 years in Cumberland, Maryland at the Federal Correctional Institution on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)
Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder, poses for a portrait after being released last night after spending the past 3 years in Cumberland, Maryland at the Federal Correctional Institution on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Trump Supporters Who Stormed US Capitol Begin to Leave Prison Following Sweeping Pardons

Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder, poses for a portrait after being released last night after spending the past 3 years in Cumberland, Maryland at the Federal Correctional Institution on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)
Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder, poses for a portrait after being released last night after spending the past 3 years in Cumberland, Maryland at the Federal Correctional Institution on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)

Donald Trump supporters who attacked the US Capitol four years ago began to leave prison on Tuesday after the newly installed president issued sweeping pardons, an early signal that he intends to make aggressive use of his executive power.

The Republican president's pardon of 1,500 defendants on Monday evening, hours after he took the oath of office, drew outrage from lawmakers who were endangered and from some of the 140 police officers injured in the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 victory.

"I have been betrayed by my country," Michael Fanone, a former officer with Washington's Metropolitan Police Department who suffered severe injuries during the riot, told CNN on Monday after Trump's announcement. "Tonight, six individuals who assaulted me as I did my job on Jan. 6, as did hundreds of other law enforcement officers, will now walk free."

Trump's clemency extended from the people who committed only misdemeanors such as trespassing to those who attacked police officers and to the far smaller group who planned the assault on democracy.

One of Trump's fellow Republicans, Senator Thom Tillis, said pardoning rioters who assaulted police sent a wrong message.

"I saw an image today in my news clippings of the people who were crushing that police officer. None of them should get a pardon," Tillis told Reuters in a hallway interview. "You make this place less safe if you send the signal that police officers could potentially be assaulted and there is no consequence. It’s pretty straightforward to me."

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the pardons, claiming without evidence that many of the convictions were politically motivated.

"President Trump campaigned on this promise," she said on Fox News. "It should come as no surprise that he delivered on it on Day One."

More than 1,000 defendants pleaded guilty rather than go to trial, including 327 who pleaded guilty to felonies, according to Justice Department statistics.

Stewart Rhodes, the former leader of the Oath Keepers militia who had his 18-year prison sentence commuted, was released shortly after midnight on Tuesday in Cumberland, Maryland.

Rhodes did not enter the US Capitol on Jan. 6, but he was found guilty of plotting to use force against Congress to prevent the election certification. He was also accused of helping to stockpile firearms at a hotel in nearby Virginia that could be ferried across the river to Washington, D.C.

Rhodes was one of 14 people whom Trump released from prison early, commuting their sentences, without fully pardoning them. That means they will continue to face some restrictions, including a ban on owning firearms.

The family of Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, said his release was expected on Tuesday. Tarrio was not present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, but was sentenced to 22 years, the longest imposed on any defendant, after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in planning the attack.

LARGEST INVESTIGATION IN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Trump's action shutters the largest investigation in the Justice Department's history, including more than 300 cases that had still been pending. Prosecutors filed dozens of motions to dismiss cases on Tuesday morning, federal court records showed.

In Washington, the trial of Kenneth Fuller and his son Caleb, who faced felony charges of obstructing police during a civil disorder, came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

Federal judges in Washington - including some appointed by Trump - have for years handled Capitol riot cases and spoken of their alarm at the events of the day. At a November hearing, Trump-nominated US District Judge Carl Nichols said a blanket Jan. 6 pardon would be "beyond frustrating or disappointing," according to a court transcript.

The judge presiding over the Fullers' trial, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, ordered it dismissed without discussion, noting that her ruling satisfied what she called Trump's edict.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Caleb Fuller, 22, told reporters that he and his parents celebrated in their hotel room after hearing Trump's decision on Monday night.

"I'm a free man now," he said.

Fuller said he didn’t witness any violence during the riot.

"I didn't see anyone get hurt," he said. "So I feel like everyone that was around me is deserving of a pardon."

The attack was spurred by Trump's refusal to acknowledge his defeat, which threatened the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in US history.

The sweeping action went further than many of Trump's allies had signaled. Both Vice President JD Vance and Trump's attorney general choice Pam Bondi had previously said they believed people who committed violence were unlikely to be pardoned.

'VIOLENCE IS THE NORM IN THIS COUNTRY'

Among those due to be released were leaders of the far-right Proud Boys organization, including some convicted of seditious conspiracy. About 40 men wearing Proud Boys insignia traded insults with protesters on the streets of Washington during Trump's inauguration on Monday.

Others due for release included Dominic Pezzola, who was accused of stealing a police officer's riot shield and using it to smash a window, beginning the breach of the Capitol.

Attorney Norm Pattis, who represents Rhodes and two other Jan. 6 leaders, disputed the notion that the clemency would lead to an increase in political violence.

"Our politics has always been violent," Pattis said, pointing to events ranging from the Civil War to the protests of the 1960s that sometimes led to bloodshed. "Violence is the norm in this country."

Trump's pardon was only one of a sheaf of executive orders he signed after an inauguration ceremony in the US Rotunda, where his supporters had rampaged four years earlier.

Trump kicked off a sweeping immigration crackdown, cut support for wind power and electric vehicles and cleared the way for oil drilling in the Arctic and in offshore areas. He withdrew from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization.

He delayed the ban of the popular TikTok video app that was due to be shuttered on Sunday.