A March 2016 editorial in one of China’s state-owned newspapers used the rise of Donald
Trump in America as an example of the inherent failures in democracy.
Much of American media seems obsessed about Trump’s run for the White House and the
rest of the world is also keeping a close eye on the coverage of the 2016 presidential
election.
So, just how does the world view Donald Trump?
Well, for many non-Americans, Trump embodies a popular stereotype of the United States
as viewed from abroad.
Many believe he personifies qualities like vulgarity, ignorance, superficiality, materialism,
and narcissism.
According to a Politico interview with a sociologist, Trump is essentially a candidate that people
love to hate, who makes other countries feel good about not being American.
In fact, he seems to be so widely reviled that half a million residents of the United
Kingdom signed a petition attempting to ban him from their country.
Even Harry Potter author, JK Rowling compared Trump to Lord Voldemort in a tweet.
The candidate is also frequently compared with unpopular regional far right politicians,
for example France’s Jean-Marie Le Pen, or Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi.
The former National Front leader, Le Pen, actually endorsed Trump, who shares nationalist
views against immigration.
At the same time, despite earning the ire of most world leaders, Russian President Vladimir
Putin has said of the candidate that he is a “brilliant and talented person”, and
that “he’s the absolute leader in the presidential race”.
And while many Europeans are terrified of a Trump Presidency, many people in Latin America
are furious.
Early in his campaign, Trump described Mexicans as being “rapists” and criminals.
Mexican officials responded, calling the comments profoundly ignorant, and social media in the
country ridiculed him as “attention seeking”.
In some countries, Trump is even used as an insult.
When the Venezuelan president moved to close the country’s borders, he was ridiculed
as being too Trump-like, with internet memes showing the President with Trump’s trademark
hairstyle.
But although Europeans are frightful, and Latin Americans are insulted, perhaps the
most worrisome aspect of Trump’s perception abroad is in the Middle East.
One security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies told Newsweek that
Trump’s statements work to validate groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
By painting the US as anti-Muslim, Trump creates a black and white, us vs them narrative that
appeals directly to potential terror recruits.
The security expert compared violent Islamic extremism with Trump’s populist, partisan
political extremism.
As controversial as Trump’s statements are, he is still receiving support in the US, as
shown by his success in the primary elections.
And with just a few months until the general election, Trump’s popularity has many worried
about the effects of a Trump presidency.
But across the board, one thing seems clear: with the exception of far right European groups,
President Vladimir Putin, and a growing proportion of the American public, the rest of the world
is not particularly excited to see Donald Trump in the White House.
And while some may be using Donald Trump to challenge the idea of democracy, there’s
more at play than meets the eye.
Check out this video up top by our friends at China Uncensored to get an up close look
at how China views Trump.
And you can watch our video below about the GOP’s attempt to stop Trump’s candidacy.
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