This is how the world leaders reacted to Trump's election

"Fast seat belts."
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

World leaders are starting to congratulate newly-elected U.S. president Donald J. Trump, who shocked the world by narrowly beating his Democratic challenger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The first one was Russia president Vladimir Putin, who sent a telegram from the Kremlin.

"Putin expressed hope for joint work to restore Russian-American relations from their state of crisis, and also to address pressing international issues and search for effective responses to challenges concerning global security," the Kremlin said in a statement.


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Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, and Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker also sent a letter and invited Trump to Europe for an EU-U.S. summit at his “earliest convenience.”

NATO chief Jen Stoltenberg followed suit and kept the message pretty formal, inviting Trump to Brussels for the NATO summit next year.

Another early message was from Slovenian prime minister Miro Cerar, who congratulated Trump and Slovenia-born First Lady Melania Trump:

Italy PM Renzi also congratulated Trump and said Italy friendship with the U.S. is solid.

UK's post-Brexit prime minister Theresa May posted a Facebook statement congratulating Trump's election "following a hard-fought campaign".

"Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence"

"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."

However, behind the official statements, governments from Asia to Europe reacted in disbelief to the victory of Trump.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, described the result as a "huge shock" and questioned whether it meant the end of "Pax Americana", Reuters reported.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault pledged to work with Trump but said his personality "raised questions".

And former Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt had a stark warning:

French President Francois Hollande said Trump's election "opens a period of uncertainty". He also said that his victory shows that France must be stronger, and that Europe must be united.

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