The World Reacts To The First Presidential Debate

 

WANT TO KNOW

WORLD

Shock, Sadness and Schadenfreude

Allies and rivals of the United States expressed shock, uncertainty, worry and sadness in the wake of the first US presidential debate between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

The debate, the first before the presidential election on Nov. 3, was rife with insults, interruptions and yet had very little discussion of policy, prompting many world leaders and analysts to question the state of the US democracy.

In Europe, Finnish-Swiss professor Jussi Hanhimaki said that the debate was disturbing to many on the continent, who see their transatlantic ally as “a symbol of democracy.” In Australia, Paul Kell of the Australian newspaper said the debate was “swamped” by the “rancor engulfing America.” In Africa, Kenyan commentator Patrick Gathara noted, “This debate would be sheer comedy if it wasn’t such a pitiful and tragic advertisement for US dysfunction.”

And in the Middle East, the focus was on the Arabic expression used by Biden, “Inshallah” (God Willing) in response to Trump’s pledge to release his tax returns. Still, Emirati political scientist, Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, wondered, “How did America reach this level of political decline?”

Meanwhile, some commentators said the debate was going to make most Canadians feel grateful for living in Canada.

The enormous international interest in the debate shows the importance of the American presidential election to the world. But the debate itself has left allies and rivals alike questioning the country’s place on the global stage, the New York Times wrote.

John Sawers, a former British diplomat, told the Times: “…It makes me despondent about America. The country we have looked to for leadership has descended into an ugly brawl.”

Some allies worried Russia, China, Turkey and other authoritarian states would feel emboldened to act freely in the absence of US leadership. In China, meanwhile, the response to the debate was “glee,” the Times noted.

Still, some watching from afar just struggled to understand the “shout-athon” at all, according to the Washington Post.

In Japan, public broadcaster NHK employed three interpreters to make sense of the debate for the local audience: All three were heard by their Japanese audience repeatedly talking over one other as they tried to keep pace with the candidates and moderator, whom the audience could also hear.

Regardless, the interpreters were the heroes of the evening, praised by the Japanese public for their skill and endurance: “Those interpreters deserve MEDALS!” said one member of the audience.