The decision to nix election night festivities may also reflect the unusually politicized nature of America’s diplomatic corps. Most of the State Department’s top envoys around the world are political appointees and allies or donors of the sitting president. The current U.S. ambassadors in Europe’s top capitals, for example — like Ambassador Mark Gitenstein in Brussels and Ambassador Jane Hartley in London — are close allies of Democratic President Joe Biden.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in London said it “appreciates the long-standing energy and excitement around U.S. presidential elections which have been carried out over nearly 250 years of democracy,” but added that “election day does not end on election night. Time may be required to count votes and let the electoral process work.”
The comments captured another underlying reason why diplomats may be avoiding the public glare on election night — there is deep unease about the strength of the U.S. democratic system after disputes about the outcome of the 2020 election led to an attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Eight years on from 2016, the cautious approach to election night also reflects the dramatically different approach that Europe is taking to the prospect of a Trump presidency this time around. Having been caught on the wrong foot by Trump’s victory in 2016, European and American top officials are resolved not to let the same thing happen again.
The EU, like governments around Europe, has been game-planning a possible Trump victory after having been blindsided in 2016. Over the last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s top official, Björn Seibert, has been huddling with ambassadors of the EU’s 27 countries and other top officials to model how the bloc will respond to the U.S. election.
Though transatlantic relations will endure challenges, whoever wins on Nov. 5 — Vice President Kamala Harris has signaled she will prioritize American workers and raise tariffs — the possibility of a second Trump presidency has alarmed the EU. Trump’s policy vision could wreak havoc on the EU-U.S. relationship: His plans to increase tariffs would likely unleash a trade war, while he has called on Europe to cough up more on defense and on Ukraine, and has declined to commit to NATO. Not to mention what a Trump presidency would mean for international cooperation on climate, which could pressure Europe to increase its own efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
One person who will have some bubbly on ice is Hungarian strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who called Trump to wish him luck last week. As it happens, Orbán, whose country holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, will be hosting European leaders in Budapest for a summit later this week as the U.S. results roll in. He has said he will open “several bottles of Champagne” if Trump wins — but he could find himself drinking alone.
Rosa Prince and Clea Caulcutt contributed to this report.
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