Diplomats From Europe, Middle East, Latin America And Asia Complain About Donald Trump

According to senior U.S. officials, foreign diplomats are expressing alarm to U.S. government officials about what they say are inflammatory and insulting public statements by Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

Officials from Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia have complained in recent private conversations, mostly about the xenophobic nature of Trump's statements, said three U.S. officials, who all declined to be identified. One of the officials said “as the Trump rhetoric has continued, and in some cases amped up, so, too, have concerns by certain leaders around the world”. The three officials declined to disclose a full list of countries whose diplomats have complained, but two said they included at least India, South Korea, Japan and Mexico.

U.S. officials said it was highly unusual for foreign diplomats to express concern, even privately, about candidates in the midst of a presidential campaign.  America's allies in particular usually don't want to be seen as meddling in domestic politics, mindful that they will have to work with whoever wins.  The foreign officials have been particularly disturbed by the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim themes that the billionaire real estate mogul has pushed, according to the U.S. officials.

European and Middle Eastern government representatives have expressed dismay to U.S. officials about anti-Muslim declarations by Trump that they say are being used in recruiting pitches by the Islamic State and other violent jihadist groups. On December 7, Trump's campaign issued a written statement saying that he was calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on. Trump subsequently said in television interviews that American Muslims traveling abroad would be allowed to return to the country, as would Muslim members of the U.S. military or Muslim athletes coming to compete in the United States.

There are also concerns abroad that the United States would become more insular under Trump, who has pledged to tear up international trade agreements and push allies to take a bigger role in tackling Middle East conflicts. A senior NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity said “European diplomats are constantly asking about Trump's rise with disbelief and, now, growing panic. With the EU facing an existential crisis, there's more than the usual anxiety about the U.S. turning inward when Europe needs U.S. support more than ever”.