Trump Congratulatory Calls Roll in From World Leaders

The president-elect’s phone keeps ringing.

By , an energy and environment reporter at Foreign Policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28, 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28, 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28, 2017. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his reelection victory on Wednesday with congratulatory calls from several foreign leaders, many of whom he shared warm ties with during his first term in office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to call Trump, according to the Israeli leader’s spokesperson. “The conversation was warm and cordial,” Netanyahu’s office said, noting that the two “agreed to work together for Israel’s security” and discussed “the Iranian threat.” Netanyahu was also quick to congratulate President Joe Biden on his victory in 2020, which enraged Trump, who had claimed that the election was still ongoing. 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his reelection victory on Wednesday with congratulatory calls from several foreign leaders, many of whom he shared warm ties with during his first term in office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to call Trump, according to the Israeli leader’s spokesperson. “The conversation was warm and cordial,” Netanyahu’s office said, noting that the two “agreed to work together for Israel’s security” and discussed “the Iranian threat.” Netanyahu was also quick to congratulate President Joe Biden on his victory in 2020, which enraged Trump, who had claimed that the election was still ongoing. 

“The first person that congratulated [Biden] was Bibi Netanyahu, the man that I did more for than any other person I dealt with,” Trump told Axios in 2021, using the Israeli leader’s nickname. “Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake.”

Trump also spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom he had cozy ties during his first term. According to a statement from Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry, Mohammed bin Salman expressed “the kingdom’s aspiration to strengthen the historical and strategic relations between the two countries.” 

In a post on X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared that he had congratulated his “friend” Trump on a “spectacular victory.” “Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defense, energy, space, and several other sectors,” he said. 

French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump also engaged in a “very good discussion” for 25 minutes, Macron’s office said. In their phone call, the two leaders discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, and the European Union.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who was the first world leader to congratulate Trump in 2016, has also spoken with him, according to a statement from his office.

This post is part of FP’s live coverage with global updates and analysis throughout the U.S. election. Follow along here.

Christina Lu is an energy and environment reporter at Foreign Policy. X: @christinafei

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