Leaders from around the world condemned the invasion of the United States Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, expressing shock at the chaos that unfolds in a country where they once counted for global leadership.
“Shameful scenes in the United States Congress,” tweeted Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Great Britain, a faithful ally of the United States for generations. “The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there is a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.”
Other allies were equally shocked by what they described as an attack on American democracy, although some said they believed that US democratic institutions would resist the turmoil. Some leaders chose Trump for harsh criticism.
“Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of American voters and stop stepping on democracy,” wrote German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Twitter. “Out of inflamed words violent acts arise.” He added that “contempt for democratic institutions has disastrous effects”.
“The beauty of democracy?” with a shrug emoji was the reaction tweeted by Bashir Ahmad, a personal assistant to the President of Nigeria, who has suffered several blows since independence – including one led decades ago by President Muhammadu Buhari, who recently took office via a vote .
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and Colombian President Iván Duque were among those who denounced the demonstrators in Latin America, but both said they were confident that American democracy and the rule of law will prevail.
“In this sad episode in the United States, fascist supporters showed their true face: undemocratic and aggressive,” tweeted Luis Roberto Barroso, judge of the Brazilian Supreme Court and head of the country’s electoral court. He said he hoped that “American society and institutions will react vigorously to this threat to democracy”.
Venezuela, which is under US sanctions, said events in Washington show that the US “is suffering from what it has generated in other countries with its policy of aggression”.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has survived the efforts of the US-backed opposition to oust him, despite accusations of human rights abuses, civil unrest and a humanitarian crisis that has forced millions to flee the oil-rich country.
In Puerto Rico, many people accessed social media and joked that US territory no longer wanted statehood. Independence, they said, looked attractive for the first time in decades.
In fact, it was this quest for independence that marked one of the last times that the United States Congress was violently attacked. Four members of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico opened fire in the Chamber in March 1954, injuring five lawmakers.
The Italians watched the events with shock, always considering the USA the model of democracy and the country that rescued Italy after its fascist fall during World War II.
“This is the widely expected result of Trumpism,” tweeted a retired Italian center-left politician, Pierluigi Castagnetti. “And unfortunately, it won’t end today. When politics is replaced by the people’s deception and fanaticism, drift is inevitable. “
European Parliament President David Sassoli, who heads one of the largest legislatures in the world, also denounced the scenes on Capitol Hill. The European Union has spent four grumpy years dealing with the Trump administration, and its top officials have repeatedly said they want a better relationship with President-elect Joe Biden.
“This is an insurrection. Nothing less. In Washington, ”tweeted Carl Bildt, a former Prime Minister of Sweden.
Turkey, a NATO ally who is sometimes at odds with Washington, has expressed concern about images of furious Trump supporters trying to thwart Biden’s certification as the new president. Chaos forced lawmakers to be expelled from the building.
A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry called on all parties in the United States to use “moderation and common sense”.
“We believe that the United States will overcome this domestic political crisis with maturity,” said the ministry.
The ministry’s statement also urged Turkish citizens in the United States to stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
Trump made a restrained plea for peace long after the confusion started, but did not ask supporters to disperse immediately. Later, he encouraged them to return home and called them “very special people”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was “deeply disturbed” by events in the United States, Canada’s closest neighbor and ally.
“Violence will never be able to nullify the will of the people. Democracy in the United States must be maintained – and it will be, ”tweeted Trudeau.
Volkan Bozkir, president of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly, said he was saddened by the events. But, he tweeted, “I believe that peace and respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time.”
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who visited Trump twice at the White House and hosted him in Poland, said on Twitter that his country had “full confidence in the power of American democracy”.