Donald
Trump's election as the 45th U.S. president was received in the Arab world with
mixed emotions. While Syria and Egypt welcomed the result and expressed hopes
for cooperation with the new American administration, reactions in the Gulf
states, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar, were ambivalent. Although the Gulf
states were glad to see the back of the Obama administration, which had brought
them tremendous disappointment because of its Iran and Syria policies, and
expressed cautious optimism that Trump's policies would be radically different,
they were at the same time very concerned because of his hostile statements
regarding Muslims.
The different positions of Arab countries was manifested
in their leaders' reactions to Trump's victory. Egyptian President 'Abd
Al-Fattah Al-Sisi was among the first leaders to call and congratulate him, and
also invited him to visit the country.[1] Others,
including Saudi King Salman, sufficed with sending congratulatory letters
stressing the importance of their countries' relations with the U.S.
This document will review reactions in several Arab
countries to Trump's win, as expressed in statements by officials as well as in
press articles, especially editorials and op-eds by prominent journalists. It
should be mentioned that the Palestinian press has yet to publish editorials
addressing Trump's victory.
Egypt: We Expect
Trump To Bring New Spirit To Egypt-U.S. Relations
The Egyptian regime, under President
'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi, welcomed Trump's election. As soon as his win was
announced, Al-Sisi was one of the first to call him and congratulate him.[2] A
statement by the president's office read: "Egypt expects that Trump's
presidential term will bring a new spirit to the relations between the
countries" and that the two countries will become closer.[3]
Editor Of Official Egyptian Daily Al-Ahram:
Trumps' Victory – An Opportunity For Egypt To Regain Regional, International Prominence
Muhammad 'Abd Al-Hadi 'Allam,
editor-in-chief of the official Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, wrote in a
similar vein: "The phone conversation between Egyptian President 'Abd
Al-Fattah Al-Sisi and U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, and the
congratulations [Al-Sisi] conveyed to [Trump], are a direct reflection of [the
former's] honest desire for deep relations with a country that, for over three
decades, has had tight strategic diplomatic and economic ties with Egypt – although in the last few years
these relations were marred by disagreements about internal [Egyptian] and
security matters that created a schism between the largest Arab country and the
world's most powerful country...
"Trump's
victory and Clinton's defeat [deliver] a crushing blow to the foundations of
the tamkin project [the Muslim Brotherhood's plan for strengthening
Islamic rule in Egypt], and pave the way for Egypt to regain its natural role
as the pivot of the Middle East and the Arab world. The opportunity exists, and
both sides must seize it. If we what to seize this opportunity to cooperate
with the new administration in Washington, which understands that Egypt's role
can be realized only [if there is] cooperation and understanding on crucial
issues, we must recalibrate [our course] and make changes, so we can play a
more central role and dare to confront the existing positions of [certain]
regional countries that openly sponsor terrorist organizations."[4]
Similar
sentiments were expressed by Al-Ahram Ahmed 'Abd Al-Tawab: "Whatever
the commentary on his tendencies and ideas, most of which concern domestic U.S.
matters... from now on we must consider the positive points where we can
collaborate with him, especially in light of his explicit remarks on the war on
terrorism, and specifically his promise to eliminate ISIS.
"As for
Hillary Clinton, her defeat is highly profitable for Egypt and the Arab region.
She was involved in all the destructive actions that harmed the region since
she became secretary of state. It was she who adopted and helped spread the
policy of reliance on the so-called 'moderate Islam,' that included the Muslim
Brotherhood [MB] in that moderate camp. Therefore, the MB is miserable over her
defeat, since while she deluded herself into thinking that she was ahead, she
promised to help them return to Egypt's political life. She also boasted of her
support for Israel and questioned her rival Trump's support for it, and even ratcheted
up presidential campaign with overblown slogans about who supports Israel more!
She also acknowledged U.S. involvement in establishing the notorious Al-Qaeda
terrorist organization. Trump once accused her of participating in creating
ISIS..."[5]
On the other
hand, Al-Shurouq editor-in-chief 'Imad Al-Din Hussein, known for his
criticism of the Al-Sisi regime, wrote: "We forget that it was the various
organizations' increasing extremism and terrorism in the name of Islam, and
their operations in Europe and the U.S., that triggered the rise of Western
extremism. Extremists everywhere, especially ISIS, will be the ones who are happiest
with Trump's victory, as he will breathe new life into them.
"We in
Egypt and in the Arab world must read and understand the Americans' real
feelings, how they think, and what motivated them to elect a man believed by
nearly the entire world to be insane. Most world leaders did not yearn for a
Trump victory, and some even openly hoped he would lose. But everyone in
politics will forget about that and look ahead. This is the reality in the
cruel world of politics...
"Personally,
hand on my heart, I am afraid of Trump's surprises [to come, which may pose] the
greatest danger to the world. But in politics we must learn to be pragmatic,
and must completely separate passionate emotions and aspirations from
interests..."[6]
Egyptian TV
Host Tamer Amin: At Least Trump Says He's An Enemy to Your Face – Democrats
Wear One Million Masks
On Egypt's Al-Hayat TV, on November
9, television host Tamer Amin said that he was happy that Trump had won, adding
that he couldn't stand Obama’s policies in the Middle East, and accused Clinton
of founding and financing ISIS. He further said that Republicans tell the truth
to your face, while Democrats have "70 faces and one million masks."
He concluded: "We congratulate ourselves that we will get to see First
Lady Trump, as well as his daughter, who is truly a sight for sore eyes."
To view the MEMRI TV clip,
click here or
below.
Editor Of Syrian Daily: Trump's
Election Brings Joy To Syria
In Syria, there was optimism and
joy at Trump's win, because of his positions on terrorism, but primarily
because of his defeat of Clinton, who as secretary of state when the Syria
crisis erupted in 2011 was firmly against the regime's violent suppression of
the revolution against it.
President
Bashar Al-Assad's political and military advisor Bouthaina Sha'aban expressed
caution in an interview with NPR: "Syria does not interfere in the results
of the elections and in who won them. What interests Syrians is the policy of
the new president. If the policy is in line with Damascus's aspirations, then
Syria will be open to any collaboration with the U.S. as well as with other
nations that respect national sovereignty and preserve the interests of people,
instead of interfering in their affairs. American interference in the affairs
of other countries has brought nothing but disaster. The U.S. must undertake a
policy of collaboration with countries, as opposed to one of superiority and
[issuing] dictates."[7]
However, Syrian
MP Muhammad Kheir Al-Akam, who is one of the regime's representatives in talks with
the opposition, was more decisive: "A Trump victory is better than a Clinton
victory. [Had she won], the situation in the region would have been far worse,
and the Gulf states would have been the big winners."[8]
Waddah 'Abd
Rabo, editor-in-chief of the Syrian daily Al-Watan, which is close to
the regime, was thrilled at Trump's win, saying that all his views "benefit
Syria." In an article titled "Trump – Crisis For Global Elites, Joy
For Syria," he wrote that the American street "has chosen extremism
over manipulation and honesty over lies and deception." He said that the
win of both Brexit in the U.K. and Trump in the U.S. clearly showed that both
peoples "are more aware [than before] of their politicians' deceit, lies,
and destructive wars, as well as their reliance on Gulf money, their obsequiousness
to backwards and reactionary [Gulf] emirates, and their disregard for the
spread of Wahhabi Islam in their own countries' mosques and suburbs – and of
the fact that they had enabled Al-Sa'ud [the Saudi royal family] and others to
arm and fund terrorist organizations..."
Explaining why
he was glad about Trump's win, he wrote: "U.S. President-Elect [Trump] has
no aspirations regarding Syria and the region, and does not believe that the
Gulf states' plans to destroy Syria are beneficial. He, like most Syrians, seeks
the elimination of ISIS and other extremist terrorist groups, and could take
the hands of Russia and Syria so that they together could end one of the most
horrible crimes of the century, which was perpetrated by the previous American
administration along with its Saudi, Qatari, and Turkish allies; he could also protect
his own country's borders and revive its deteriorating economy. These positions
all benefit Syria. Therefore, you could not miss the joy on the faces of most
Syrians, many of whom spent the entire night watching the tally of the votes,
while others awoke to the results for which they had hoped but did not expect."
'Abd Rabo added: "There is no way that Trump will take, and hold, power without
seriously changing his country's foreign policy..."[9]
Senior Figure In Syrian Opposition: We Expect
To Cooperate With Trump In Order To Stop Killing Of Syrian People
At the same time, the Syrian
opposition also congratulated Trump on his win and expressed hope to cooperate
with him in order to end the tragedy of the Syrian people. The general
coordinator of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Riyad Hijab, sent a
letter to Trump in which he congratulated him on his own behalf and that of the
HNC, and "on behalf of millions of Syrians yearning for freedom and democracy,"
and wrote: "This is a historic opportunity that we must seize in order to
deepen the friendship between the Syrian and American peoples... We in Syria
expect to deepen the ties and the coordination with you in order to bring peace
to our region and find just and expedient solutions to the threat of terror
that is endangering the region, in all its forms and organizations, especially
the state terror that the [Syrian] regime is employing against the Syrian
people – [a people] that is fighting to rid itself of a repugnant dictatorship
and enjoy freedom and democracy like all other nations of the free world... We
expect to cooperate [with you] in order to stop the killing of Syrians and
find, along with [the U.S.] and Syria's other allies, the best and most
expedient ways to defend [Syria's] citizens, relieve their suffering and bring
peace and security to our region."[10]
Qatari Dailies:
"Trump's Win Is Greatly Worrying For Arab Rulers And Leaders"
In the Gulf countries there was cautious
optimism and hope that Trump's policies on issues of regional concern,
particularly Iran and Syria, would differ from those of his predecessor. Gulf
leaders sent Trump congratulatory messages expressing their desire for closer relations
with the U.S.
However, the London
daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, owned by Qatar, that openly supported Clinton, reported
that "far from [diplomatic] protocol, Trump's win is greatly worrying for
Arab rulers and leaders. They are facing a new America led by Trump, and they fear
that he will change the regional order that existed for decades." The
daily also stated that Gulf leaders "want an American president who
understands their fears, after eight years of lack of confidence because of Obama,
with whom they did not have the kind of personal relationship that they highly
value."[11]
The daily's
November 11, 2016 editorial expressed these apprehensions felt by the Gulf
states. It noted that the first to rejoice at Trump's victory and congratulate
him were Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu, Egyptian President 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi and the Syrian regime of
Bashar Al-Assad, whereas the Gulf states felt "considerable apprehension"
about his win. He added: "One of the controversial aspects of Trump's
election campaign was his position towards the Arab Gulf states, and his
statements to the effect that the U.S. would not defend these states for free, but
would exact a price for this protection. This is close to blackmail... The fact
that he made similar statements regarding [America's] allies in NATO may
comfort the Arabs somewhat, but this statement nevertheless alerts [the Arabs]
to how he truly sees them: as weaklings who need to bribe someone to defend
them!
"Some
might say that Trump the president will be completely different from Trump the
candidate who wanted to collect votes, and that the U.S. is a state of
institutions. Those are reasonable arguments, but Trump is known as an authoritarian
figure, and unlike Obama, his party has a majority in Congress. Add to that the
fact that the Supreme Court will be under his influence, [and we are led to the
conclusion that] the distance between his slogans and his actions may not be so
big. Therefore, some of the Arabs' and
Muslims' fears may unfortunately come true."[12]
Cartoon
in Qatari daily: "The real end of the world" will not be the result
of "a meteor hitting the earth," "the eruption of a super-volcano"
or "the return of the ice age," but of "trump's victory in the
U.S. presidential elections (Al-Quds
Al-Arabi, London, November 11, 2016)
Cartoon
in Qatari daily: "The scream of the U.S. elections" (Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, November 10, 2016)
In an
editorial, the Qatari daily Al-Raya called on Trump to take seriously
the Gulf countries' apprehensions about U.S. policies in the region, and to
rethink them so that they are more in line with these countries' regional and
international status: "The history of solid relations between the Arab
Gulf states and the U.S., which evolved into a strategic partnership, mean that
the new American president must take seriously the concerns in the Gulf about U.S.
policy, particularly the U.S. position on problems in the region – the bizarre
JASTA [Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act], Iran's interference in regional
affairs, Israel and the Palestinian problem, and the situation in Yemen, Iraq,
and Syria – because these issues impact relations between the U.S. and the Gulf
states...
"Trump's presidential
win, and the beginning of a new presidential era for the U.S., offer the
perfect opportunity for the American administration to reexamine its positions
on Gulf and Arab issues. Therefore, the U.S., which is facing a new era, must
realize that the international and regional situation has completely changed,
and that the Gulf Cooperation Council states will no longer stand on the
sidelines of the regional and international crises that affect them. This is
especially true after they became main and central actors, whose positions on
all matters are listened to, and after they became central partners regionally
and internationally who cannot be dismissed, circumvented, or glossed over, as
the past.
"Therefore,
the Gulf states, including Qatar which has congratulated the new American
president on his victory, openly yearn for the glorious future that awaits their
relations with the U.S., because they grasp their importance. They hope that
the Gulf and the U.S. will act together to overcome the fears impacting their
relationship and will strengthen their strategic partnership on the basis of new
principles that meet Gulf demands. This hinges on settling of matters that are
pending, which is the most important thing being demanded of the new American
administration."[13]
Cartoon
in Qatari daily: Trump in the White House (Al-Sharq, Qatar, November 10, 2016)
Saudi Editorial: Perhaps Trump, Unlike
Obama, Will Once Again Acknowledge The Existence Of A Global Axis Of Evil
Saudi King Salman bin 'Abd
Al-Aziz sent his congratulations to Trump, underlining the close U.S.-Saudi
relations and expressing his wish for even greater closeness in a way that will
serve the interests of both.[14] Saudi
prince and businessman Walid bin Talal, who last year called Trump a
"disgrace... to all America" and demanded that he withdraw from the
presidential race for his remarks about Muslims, tweeted: "President elect
@realDonaldTrump whatever the past differences, America has spoken,
congratulations & best wishes for your presidency."
(Twitter.com/Alwaleed_Talal,
November 9, 2016)
Several
editorials in Saudi dailies expressed optimism about Trump's future policies. The
official Saudi daily Al-Watan's stated: "Trump promised that he
would reexamine international treaties signed between the U.S. and other
countries, chiefly Iran, whose foreign minister yesterday asked the new
American president to honor past agreements. Perhaps Trump will [re-acknowledge
the existence of] the global axis of evil declared by George Bush Jr., [a
recognition] which Obama abandoned when he negotiated [with Iran on the nuclear
issue], saying at that time that this was a good thing...
"There is
no doubt that Trump, who blamed Obama and his administration for the failure of
American foreign policy, will be successful in his own foreign policy, as the
years past have been one long failure because of false red lines, empty
promises, and agreements that damaged international peace and security. There
will be no radical changes to the strategy of U.S. policy around the world
despite eight years of weakness and withdrawal to the domestic arena. But Trump
will restore confidence in the U.S. government, which has lost credibility worldwide
[due to events in] Crimea, Syria, China, and Libya..."[15]
In its
editorial, the official daily 'Okaz stated: "We are hopeful –
[although] it is hope mingled with fear
– that the new [American] policy that we will see in Trump's presidency
will be more positive vis-à-vis the important issues in the Middle East, after
the waning of the U.S. role [here] changed the situation in the region from one
end to the other."[16]
Cartoon
in Saudi daily: Following Trump victory, "American Muslims and Arabs"
immigrate to "Canada and other countries" (Al-Medina, Saudi Arabia, November 10, 2016)
Former Editor Of Saudi Daily: Trump's Position
Against Terrorist Muslims Should Not Be Considered Racist
Senior Saudi journalist 'Abd
Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, formerly editor of the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq
Al-Awsat and also former director of Al-Arabiya TV, sought to reassure
readers, writing that the U.S. is a state of institutions, and that even if
Trump does make changes in U.S. foreign policy, there will not be a complete
reversal: "Don't look at President-Elect Trump, but at the U.S., which is
an establishment state... Perhaps there will be changes, but there will be no
reversal of [U.S.] foreign policy. Trump won the U.S. presidential election, so
the debate that comprised the election campaign is over, and you will hear no
more statements against Muslims and foreigners...
"Will
Trump go very far from the policy of his predecessor Obama? He may do so on
issues that the previous policy failed to tackle, and on issues that have been
proven by developments to threaten the interests of the U.S. or its allies in
Europe, or that are connected to the international balance of power..."
With regard to
Trump's statements about Muslims, Al-Rashed wrote: "The president-elect
has a rich background in his attitude towards Muslims, and he never took a
racist stance and never joined informational or political campaigns against Muslims
in the U.S. or outside it, even in the wake of the phobia that prevailed
following the September 11 terror attacks in New York, his own city...
"Being
against Muslims involved in terrorism and in extremism should in no way be seen
as racist. This is also the Muslims' position. It is groups of ideologies with
a terrorist perception that are trying to blur [the difference between]
hostility to extremism and hostility towards Islam, and it is they are trying
to disrupt and incite for their own political aims. The Arab countries have
much to do in order to create a relationship with the new administration in
Washington once it is established, and in order to work with the U.S.
superpower that impacts the region's stability and prosperity. We must not blame
Washington [for our troubles] and ignore the fact that most of our problems
stem from our own decisions and actions, and that most of the solutions are in
our own hands."[17]
Cartoon in Saudi daily: U.S. presidents change; U.S.
policy stays the same ( Al-Sharq, Saudi Arabia,
November 10, 2016)
A post on the Twitter page of Saudi
blogger and human rights activist Raif Badawi likewise reacted to Trump's election.
Badawi, founder of the "Liberal Network" website and a prominent
figure in Saudi Arabia's liberal movement, was sentenced in May 2014 to 10
years in prison and 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam. The post on his Twitter account,
which is managed by his wife, congratulated Trump and urged him not to forget
to defend human rights and the prisoners of conscience against extremism.[18]
Jordan: Relations With The U.S. Are Not
Impacted By Election Results
In Jordan too, it was emphasized
that the U.S. is a state of institutions, and that relations with it will not
be impacted by the election results. King Abdullah sent a letter of
congratulations to Trump expressing his hope that U.S.-Jordan relations will
become closer.[19]
Jordanian
government spokesman Muhammad Al-Momani said: "Our relations with the U.S.
are friendly and strategic in economic, political, military, and security
aspects, and they are genuine relations between institutions, not only between
leaderships... The U.S. is a state of institutions and cooperation with it
continues regardless of the election results... President[-Elect] Donald Trump
has already expressed his esteem for Jordan, in several statements in the past,
saying that he, like the Congressional leaders, expects to cooperate with King
Abdullah II, particularly in matters pertaining to fighting terrorism and to
security and stability in the region."[20]
Editor In Official Jordanian Daily Al-Rai:
Jordan's Good And Strategic Relations With U.S. Will Continue In Trump Era
On the day after the elections,
the official Jordanian daily Al-Rai published on its front page an
article titled "Jordan-U.S. Relations Are Good and Strategic," by
Faisal Malkawi, a senior member of the paper's editorial board. He wrote:
"Over the last decades, Jordan's relations with the U.S. have developed
from [mere] bilateral ties into strategic ties and an alliance in various
domains. This did not change with the changing U.S. administrations, whether
Democratic or Republican... The various U.S. administrations [all] appreciated
Jordan's role and the leadership of King Abdullah II, [and Jordan's] positions
on regional and international issues...
"Jordan-U.S.
relations will [continue to] develop in all areas under the administration of
the 45th American president, Donald Trump...
"At all
stages and in all conditions, and under various U.S. administrations, the
Middle East, with all its issues, crises and circumstances, has been at the focus
of U.S. concern, and it is expected to remain a central issue of concern for
the new U.S. president Donald Trump... In the coming days we will witness
strategic Jordan-U.S. relations anchored in a long history and with a present
and future based on cooperation and trust... There is nothing to keep Jordanian
diplomacy from embarking on a new path of [joint] work with President[-Elect]
Donald Trump and the new U.S. administration..."[21]
Cartoon in independent
Jordanian daily: Statue of Liberty seeks to emigrate to Canada following
Trump's win (Al-Ghad, Jordan, November
10, 2016)[22]
Newspaper
of Lebanon's March 14 Forces: Trump Will Necessarily Adopt A Middle East Policy
That Differs From Obama's
Lebanese Prime-Minister Elect Sa'd
Al-Hariri sent a congratulatory telegram to Trump, stressing that in light of
the great challenges faced by the Middle East, his leadership is
"essential for achieving stability, security, and peace in it." He
stressed in the telegram that Trump will find Lebanon to be a partner for his
efforts, and that the Lebanese "have high hopes for his help in
advancing peace, security, stability, and democracy in our region that suffers
from instability, [and this] begins with a political, peaceful solution for the
Syria crisis."
In its
editorial, the Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal daily, which Al-Hariri owns, stated
that in light of the failure of the Obama administration's policy, the Trump
administration would certainly change U.S. foreign policy, but wondered whether
this would be better or worse for the world: "After Trump's election, the
Lebanese and the Arabs in general cannot but hope for an improvement in the
atmosphere in the region, in a way that will advance a policy of tackling
explosive issues instead of letting them be a main cause of loss of human life,
property, and resources and a wide arena for terrorism...
"There is
no argument that Obama's policy, characterized by hesitation, withdrawal, and
passivity, was one of the main reasons for the escalation and spread of these
crises, for the increase of the human and humanitarian tragedies that they
brought, and for their spilling across their geographic borders, particularly
in Syria and Iraq, into farther-flung areas in the region and in the world.
"Therefore,
no one disputes that the only sure thing now is that President-Elect Donald Trump
will change the policy of his predecessor and adopt a different perception with
regard to what is going on inside and outside the Arab region, as he himself
said. The question is whether this change will help or hurt the region and the
world."[23]
Cartoon in UAE daily: Trump, just like Obama, dives blindly into
Middle East waters (Al-Arab, London,
November 10, 2016)
Endnotes:
[2] Al-Ahram (Egypt),
November 9, 2016.
[3] Al-Watan (Egypt),
November 9, 2016.
[4] Al-Ahram (Egypt),
November 11, 2016.
[5] Al-Ahram (Egypt),
November 10, 2016.
[6] Al-Shurouq (Egypt),
November 10, 2016.
[7] Al-Watan (Syria),
November 10, 2016.
[8] Al-Watan (Syria),
November 10, 2016.
[9] Al-Watan (Syria),
November 10, 2016.
[10] Twitter.com/hijab_riad, November 9, 2016.
[11] Al-Quds Al-Arabi
(London), November 10, 2016.
[12] Al-Quds Al-Arabi
(London), November 11, 2016.
[13] Al-Raya (Qatar),
November 10, 2016.
[14] Alarabiya.net, November
9, 2016.
[15] Al-Watan (Saudi
Arabia), November 10, 2016.
[16] 'Okaz (Saudi
Arabia), November 9, 2016.
[17] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London),
November 10, 2016.
[18] Twitter.com/raif_badawi, November
11, 2016.
[19] Petra news agency
(Jordan), November 9., 2016.
[20] Al-Rai (Jordan),
November 10, 2016.
[21] Al-Rai (Jordan),
November 11, 2016.
[22] It should be noted that
the cartoon was also posted the same day in the Jerusalem-based Palestinian daily
Al-Quds.
[23] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon),
November 10, 2016.
