World Leaders Rattled By Trump: Obama
President Barack Obama declared on a global stage Thursday that US allies are "rattled" by the success of Donald Trump and surprised that he has been elected a Republican candidate.
He said at a press conference during the summit of Group of Seven leaders that his counterparts were giving "very close attention" to the US election and to what he said in his campaign.
"They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements but they are rattled by him," said Mr. Obama after talking to G7 leaders from Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Canada.
"And for good reason, because a lot of the proposals he has made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude or an interest in getting tweets and headlines instead of actually thinking through what it is that is required to keep America safe and secure and prosperous and what is required to keep the world on an even keel."
Obama's statements are rare, for a US President does not usually comment on domestic elections overseas. Still, this year's US elections seem to have got the whole world worried about some issues.
Trump hit back in North Dakota on Thursday, calling Obama a "horrible" president, adding that he was glad foreign leaders were on edge, which is what happens "when you rattle someone that is good" he said.
Trump has stoked global concerns with his remarks on banning Muslims, building a wall on the US-Mexico border and encouraging Japan and South Korea to create nuclear weapons so that they could ease the burden on North Korea.
Hence, if there were a global election he would lose immediately. David Cameron, the UK prime minister, criticised Trump over his comments on Muslims, making the real estate Moghul, in turn, affirm that relations with the UK would "probably suffer" should he become president. "It looks like we're not going to have a very good relationship. Who knows?" Trump said.
The Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, had said he would work with whoever became the US president, but was "rooting for Hillary Clinton".
Martin Selmayr, chief of staff to Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, tweeted that it was going to be a "horror scenario" in the whole world. "2017 with Trump, Le Pen, Boris Johnson, Beppe Grillo?" he wrote. "A horror scenario that shows well why it is worth fighting populism."
