Vladimir Putin Congratulates Donald Trump as the World Reacts to Election Results

In a heated race for the White House, Americans were not the only ones waiting with bated breath as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled over states on Tuesday night, and later, as Trump was elected president.

People around the world watched and waited. On Twitter, #HungerGames and #wtfamerica began trending, while the phrase “WHAT IS HAPPENING” was used frequently enough to place it on the Trends page on the social media site.

“Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the #US presidential election,” Vladimir Putin tweeted, including a link to a lengthier statement from the President of the Russian Federation. Putin hopes to work with America to improve relations between Russia and the Unites States, according to the statement

French President Francois Hollande issued a statement about the election on Twitter, congratulating Trump and sending well wishes to Clinton.

“This U.S. election launches a period of uncertainty. I must approach it with lucidity and clarity. The United States are an important partner for France, and what is at play is peace, the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East, economic relations and preserving the planet,” Hollande said in a video message.

“I will engage with the new U.S. administration, which will begin Jan. 20, on all of these subjects without delay. But I will do it with vigilance because certain positions taken by Donald Trump during the campaign must be confronted with the values and interests we share with the U.S.”

Theresa May, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, took to Facebook to congratulate the business mogul on his win.

“Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” May wrote.

“I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe posted a special statement to Trump on Twitter.

“As a very successful businessman with extraordinary talents, not only you made a great contribution to the growth of the US economy, but now as a strong leader, you have demonstrated your determination to lead the United States,” Abe wrote.

David MacNaughton, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States said in a statement:

“I offer my congratulations to President-elect Donald J. Trump on his electoral victory … We look forward to advancing this collaboration and working closely with the new administration, members of Congress, governors and all those who help support this unparalleled relationship.”

Many British vloggers took to Twitter to express their sentiments regarding the U.S. presidential election, inviting Americans to move to England or sharing expressions of anger and frustration.

While British journalists like Piers Morgan also tweeted during election night, writing “#RevengeOfTheDeplorables” in one simple tweet.

Fellow Brit Jay Sean joined him on Twitter, writing “The rest of the world are awake to watch this all go down!” as J.K. Rowling urged everyone to “stand together.”

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, who helped Sean Penn interview Mexican drug lord El Chapo, also took to Twitter, after Mexico’s peso dropped astronomically during Election Night.

Shakira joined her and declared her support for Clinton as well.

Canadian politicians such as Norm Kelly, who serves as a city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, shared a few direct messages on Twitter sent to him as electoral college votes started to roll in.

A fellow city councillor member of Toronto, Kristyn Wong-Tam, went even further, showing her Twitter followers the effect the election had on her adorable dog and cat.

“It’s getting late and the thought of Trump elected president has emotionally exhausted my animals. #ElectionNight,” she wrote.

French politician, Marine le Pen, the president of the National-Front which is a national-conservative political party in the country, tweeted her congratulations to Trump as “the new president of the United States.”

Foreign celebrities, journalists and politicians weren’t the only ones watching in perpetual disbelief. Across the world, global markets reacted drastically to the rising prospects of a Trump presidency.

The Mexican peso plunge almost 12%, while the Dow Jones dropped nearly 650 points in after-hours trading, according to Fortune.

• REPORTING by SANDRA SOBIERAJ