International leaders have responded with a mixture of wariness, anger and enthusiasm to Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, with Panama pushing back on his pledge to retake the Panama Canal and Mexico vowing to defend its people ahead of a crackdown on migrants.
After Trump declared that the Panama Canal was a “foolish gift” to Panama that “should never have been made” during his inauguration speech, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino said the waterway “is and will continue to be Panamanian”.
“There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration,” he said in a statement on X, in apparent reference to Trump’s accusation that Panama had ceded its operation to China.
“The canal was not a concession from anyone,” he continued. “It was the result of generational struggles.”
In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged Mexican immigrants in the US to remain calm, reiterating that the two countries had a good relationship while also urging “dialogue” and respect”.
“To our countrymen and women, I say that, first, you are not alone; and, second, that we must also remain calm and see how the process develops,” the leftwing leader said.
The remarks came after Trump announced on Monday that he would declare a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and begin the process of deporting “millions and millions of criminal aliens.”
“On behalf of the government of Mexico, I congratulate Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States of America. As neighbors and business partners, dialogue, respect and cooperation will always be the symbol of our relationship,” Sheinbaum wrote on X.
In other messages posted to the platform she noted the importance of Mexican immigrants to the US economy, adding: “We will always defend them.”
Other leaders, including those of Ukraine and Israel, whose countries are embroiled in costly conflicts and highly dependent on US aid, praised Trump’s personal qualities as well as emphasising the benefits of working together to achieve peace.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Trump was a “man of strength” and “always decisive”. “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,” he wrote on X.
In Israel, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his contribution towards the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and added that “working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights.”
In Canada, which Trump has threatened to hit with 25% tariffs on all goods sparking fears of a damaging trade war, prime minister Justin Trudeau congratulated the new US leader and reminded him that “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,” he continued.
European countries with more ideological ties to the new US administration were enthusiastic.
“Now it’s our turn to shine! It’s our turn to occupy Brussels!” Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán said in a post on X after congratulating Trump. In an earlier speech Orbán said the US now had a “patriotic, peace-loving, migration-rejecting, family-oriented president” and announced the “second phase” of the Brussels “offensive”.
The long-serving Hungarian leader, who has turned the country into what he calls an “illiberal democracy” has long been at loggerheads with the EU over his reforms and policies, which critics say have undermined judicial independence and electoral integrity among other things.
In Russia, Vladimir Putin – whom Trump has called a “genius” and with whom he had what some called a “bromance” during his first term – congratulated Trump and said he was open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukraine war. “I want to emphasise that its goal should not be a brief truce … but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” he said.
In India, prime minister Narendra Modi, who has also enjoyed a warm relationship with Trump, also congratulated his “dear friend” and said: “I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries, and to shape a better future for the world.”
In some European countries, where Trump’s close ally and backer Elon Musk has caused anger and consternation by insulting elected leaders and calling for their replacement, leaders were at pains to emphasise historic friendships and alliances.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz, whom Musk has called a “fool”, posted a cheery message on X, congratulating Trump and reminding him that the US “is our closest ally the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship”, and adding that the EU had 27 members and was a “strong union”.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer, whom Musk has accused of being “complicit in the rape of Britain”, wrote that the two countries had an “enduring partnership” that had lasted centuries, continuing: “With President Trump’s longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue.”
EU president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc looked “forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges.” The EU leader had a warm relationship with outgoing president Joe Biden but will probably be at odds with Trump over issues including Ukraine and the economy; he spent his first term antagonising the bloc with tariffs and by praising Russian President Vladimir Putin among other things.
Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato, whose members Trump has repeatedly attacked for not paying enough towards their own defence, promised: “With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defence spending & production.”
He pointedly added that “Together we can achieve peace through strength – through @Nato.”
