Quiet dismay, open glee: US adversaries, allies around world react to historic Trump win

A thunderstruck world took in Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S presidential election, with ordinary people and political titans voicing jubilation, dismay or bafflement on Wednesday as allies and adversaries struggled to recalibrate their vision of a vastly altered American landscape.

On Ukraine’s frosty battlefields, in bustling urban cafes in Europe and Asia, on Middle Eastern street corners, there were gasps and widened eyes as the news flashed on televisions and smartphone screens – but in some quarters, a certain sense of detachment over this faraway political earthquake.

World leaders swiftly weighed in, ranging from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump, whose mercurial first presidency upended many longstanding diplomatic norms.

“History’s greatest comeback!” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on the platform X. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a message more typical of Washington’s closest Western allies, declared himself “ready to work together as we did.”

—Los Angeles Times

Melania Trump expected to be part-time first lady

Melania Trump put on a show of unity with her husband Tuesday night when she joined him and the rest of her family on stage in Florida to celebrate his stunning victory in the presidential election.

But as Donald Trump prepares to return to power in Washington, D.C., people close to her, as well as Melania “observers,” say that Americans shouldn’t expect her to follow him in living full-time in the White House.

After all, the newly anointed New York Times best-selling author was largely absent from Trump’s campaign, and it’s well-known that she didn’t enjoy aspects of living in Washington, D.C., and dealing with its social/political scene.

“She clearly hated being in Washington,” Kate Andersen Brower, an author of several books about the White House, told Axios in June. “If Melania becomes first lady again, of course people expect her to move into the White House and perform appropriate duties,” a social source close to the Trumps told People on Monday. “Melania knows what to do, yet has a mind of her own.”

—The Mercury News

Months after cellphone ban, school board in Florida discusses walking it back

MIAMI — Broward County Public School students and parents have mixed reactions to the first few months of the district’s policy banning most cellphone use. The school board is split too, but declined to make any changes.

Board members discussed the data from a survey sent to parents, students and teachers in October about how effective the cellphone policy has been so far and whether changes need to be made during a workshop meeting Wednesday morning. Members focused on whether students should be allowed to use their phones during lunch and study hall periods, which is prohibited under the current policy.

Four board members were not in favor of allowing cellphone use during lunch. Three were in favor, and two did not weigh in. The board did agree to prepare a data collection plan to further analyze the policy.

“As much as people want to say change is hard, making that decision that we made in July to go bell-to-bell with specific policy for cellphone use was not hard,” said board member Allen Zeman, who argued that the current policy should not be changed. “Implementing that change is hard. We are implementing today.”

—Miami Herald

Zelenskyy says Trump’s ‘strength’ can bring end to Russia’s war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Donald Trump’s “peace through strength approach” to global relations could help end Russia’s war on his country.

“This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer,” Zelenskyy said Wednesday on social media platform X, congratulating Trump on an “impressive” victory in the U.S. presidential election before it was formally declared. “I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.”

Zelenskyy’s swift embrace of Trump’s “decisive leadership” underlined the challenges facing Ukraine as the Republican contender prepares to return to the White House. Trump has said he’ll reach out to Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring a quick end to the war, raising fears in Kyiv that Ukraine may be pushed into a settlement that would freeze the conflict, allowing the Kremlin time to re-arm and renew its assault.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine relies on “continued strong bipartisan support” from the U.S. and that he wanted to discuss with Trump ways to strengthen their “strategic partnership.”

—Bloomberg News