Republican Donald Trump is returning to the White House. The former president of the United States announced his victory in an address to supporters in the early hours of the morning in Florida, and now the media have already declared him the winner. What does his return to the throne mean for Slovenia?
While the citizens of the world’s largest economy and strongest military power were deciding who would be their next president, every country in the world was watching the outcome of the election. Indeed, the United States plays a key role when it comes to Ukraine, the Middle East, China, Taiwan, NATO and the transatlantic alliance.
Trump, who was the target of two assassination attempts during the election campaign this year, has retained many loyal supporters despite all the scandals. They believe that he is the only one who can save the country from collapse, the dominance of the “extreme left” and rabid illegal immigrants who “eat pets”as Trump claimed in September during a face-off with a Democratic opponent Kamalo Harris.
Donald Trump, who already held the presidency between 2017 and 2021, won again today. According to the American press agency AP, by winning in Wisconsin, Trump secured the necessary 270 electoral votes and thus defeated the Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. He will thus become the 47th president of the United States, taking office on January 20. Even before that, the electors will vote on it, and then the result will have to be confirmed by Congress.
EU leaders will also discuss the consequences of Tuesday’s presidential election in the US for transatlantic relations at the dinner that will kick off the informal session in Hungary on Thursday. The election results could have a strong impact on trade relations between the EU and the US, and the question arises as to what the results will mean for further support for Ukraine and the role of the US in NATO.
Trump has long been a critic of NATO, arguing that many European members do not pay their own costs and instead rely on American taxpayers to take US protection for granted.
In February of this year, he then declared that, if elected, he would encourage Russia to attack those members who do not fulfill their financial obligations. He hinted at the US pulling out of the defense alliance, even though the national security publication says it has “formal exits from alliances protected” by legal means. However, it is supposed to be “silent agreement” possible if the US were to withdraw.
Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte after Trump’s announcement of victory, however, he expressed his belief that the alliance would remain strong. “His leadership will once again be crucial to maintaining a strong alliance. I look forward to working with him to achieve peace with the strength of NATO,” Rutte announced.
Will Ukraine remain without American aid?
NATO members fear that Trump could reduce or even end US military aid to Ukraine.
Trump, a long-time critic of US aid to Ukraine, could end support for the country after winning. The Ukrainian president is at the September election rally Volodymyr Zelensky marked as “the biggest trader in the world” and said the Ukrainian leader walks away with billions in military aid every time he talks to Biden.
Trump claimed during the campaign without evidence that there would be no war if he were president and says he could end it “in one day”, should he be re-elected. He partly blamed Ukraine for the conflict. Trump’s running mate JD Vance is even harsher towards Kiev. His plan to end the war involves Russia keeping the Ukrainian territory it has conquered and preventing Ukraine from joining NATO – not dissimilar to the Russian president’s demands Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump says he is on good terms. He said he got along great with him.
Putin is not going to congratulate Trump
The Kremlin admitted “donald trump’s victory”, but says he is not aware of any plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov he said the US remains “enemy country”.
“Let’s not forget that we are talking about an enemy country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our country,” is about Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in 2022, Peskov said.
Both Europe and Ukraine fear that Trump could force Ukraine to negotiate with Russia under conditions favorable to Moscow. Peskov said today that the US could otherwise “made it possible to end this conflict”, but warned that it is a country that at the same time inflames the conflict.
Trump in Netanyahu
Trump is seen by some as a strong supporter of the Jewish state. During his previous term, he moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, angering many Palestinians. Nevertheless, he openly criticized the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said that Israel must quickly “end the war”. In addition to all the statements about how much he loves Israel, Trump has also made statements critical of Jews that some have called anti-Semitic.
The USA is considered to be Israel’s closest ally, providing it with support even during the current offensive, which it is leading against the Hamas and Hezbollah movements in Gaza and Lebanon. At the same time, the government in Washington constantly called on Israel to agree on a ceasefire and a reduction in civilian casualties.
When Trump received Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Florida in July, he promised him that if he won the presidential election, he would work for peace in the Middle East and the elimination of anti-Semitism in American universities. Trump and Netanyahu had a remarkably good relationship until the 2020 US presidential election, when Netanyahu was among the first foreign leaders to vote for Trump’s rival, a Democrat. Joe Biden, congratulated for the victory. Trump never conceded defeat and, after Netanyahu congratulated Biden, stated that it would be better if he remained silent.
Netanyahu called Trump’s re-election victory a “the greatest comeback in history”. He also sees in it good prospects for the alliance between Israel and the USA. “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. It’s a big win.” Netanyahu said in a statement.
A major impact on the European economy
In one of the interviews, Trump recently announced that if he is elected president, he will impose tariffs on China if it provokes. In the campaign, he tried to create the impression that American opponents would not act against the interests of the United States under his presidency, because they would be afraid of a strong, even unpredictable reaction. He is confident that he will not have to use military force to prevent the blockade of Taiwan because President Xi “he respects and knows he’s bloody crazy”. He said he had a solid relationship with him: “Actually, he was very good, I wouldn’t say very friendly, but I got on very well with him.” Trump described Shi as very “sharply” a person.
He would not just impose tariffs on China, however, but on other trading partners as well, saying he would impose tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on all imports and about 60 percent on Chinese goods. That said, some critics question whether the president has the authority to impose such tariffs, but they believe there are some “practical or legal obstacles”, for Trump to enforce them. Trump is convinced that the introduction of tariffs would “helped a lot” to prevent China and other countries from flooding the US with products that threaten key industries such as the auto sector.
With the re-election of Trump, investors and market strategists are also worried, who believe that Trump’s victory could cause a sharp drop in the value of the euro against the dollar.
The Trump administration pulled out of UNESCO, UNHCR and the Paris Climate Agreement during his previous term. His successor, Biden, renewed membership in these organizations and agreements. Trump’s re-election, however, could mean further disagreement over environmental policies and complicate global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Slovenia is also ready to cooperate with Trump
In Europe, reactions to the results of the presidential elections in the USA are pouring in. Several European leaders have already congratulated Trump after announcing his victory. The Hungarian Prime Minister was among the first to congratulate Trump Viktor Orban, followed by a number of other European leaders, most of whom express their commitment to the transatlantic alliance and cooperation.
Even before Trump’s announcement of victory, the spokeswoman for the French government believed that when it comes to the results in the US, we should ask not what the US will do, but what Europe is capable of. “In a certain number of absolutely key areas, in defence, re-industrialisation, decarbonisation, it will be necessary to take fate into one’s own hands,” she told RTL television Maud Bregeon.
President of the Republic Nataša Pirc Musar wrote in her congratulatory message to Trump that Slovenia is ready to work with him. “Slovenia is ready to cooperate with you. Only together can we build a more democratic, safer and greener world,” the president also wrote in a post on the X network. At the same time, she emphasizes that cooperation with the United States is necessary regardless of who is president.
“It is necessary to cooperate with both Republicans and Democrats. We have a lot of ties with the USA, last but not least we are together in the NATO alliance, the economic cooperation between the EU and the USA is at a high level. We will have to continue working in this direction.” he says. In the run-up to the US elections, Trump made some visions public, she said, emphasizing: “But when someone gets to the position of president, the story changes a lot and a lot of what you say in the pre-election campaign doesn’t come true”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon and at the same time she wrote on the X social network: “The USA is our leading ally, with which Slovenia will continue to cooperate in promoting global security and economic growth.” The prime minister is also looking forward to working with Trump Robert Dove. “I look forward to working with you at a time when the world needs strong leadership to end wars and ensure peace,” the words of Goloba were published by the Government Communications Office on the government account of the X network.
President of the DZ Urška Klakočar Zupančič however, she expressed the hope that his decisions will contribute to the peaceful resolution of crises in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere in the world, the office of the Speaker of the Parliament informed STA. In response to the outcome of the presidential elections in the USA, the President of the DZ also stated that in democratic countries it is the voters who choose the leaders. “The Americans made a choice yesterday, and that decision must be respected,” the words of Klakočar Zupančič were written in her office.
Profimedia
Trump is married to Melania Trump, an American of Slovenian origin.
The Slovenian became first lady again
After leaving the White House, he did Melania Trump (née Knavs), who was born on April 26, 1970 in Novi Mesto and grew up in Sevnica before moving to the USA, revealed on the X social network that his youngest son also voted for Trump this time for the first time Barron. Trump thanked his wife for all their support. He also remembered his deceased mother-in-law Amalija Knavs.
Profimedia
Baron also voted for his father for the first time.
Trump is married to the Slovenian Melania Trump, with whom they have an 18-year-old son, Barron. He was previously married twice, and besides Barron, he has four children and eight grandchildren.
At the end of October, she came to her husband’s defense, rejecting criticism of him and condemning comparisons between him and the former leader of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler, which she called terrible. “Donald is not like Hitler. All his supporters are behind him because they want the country to be successful, and we see what kind of support he has,” she said.
Source: svet24.si
