Donald Trump elected President: Here is Dubai's Twitter reaction
Here is Dubai Twitter’s reaction to the result, plus a look back on the discussion from the GCC during his campaign…
In a shocking result, Donald Trump is about to become the 45th President of the United States.
The man who praised Dubai’s airports but was incendiary about Islam has just given his acceptance speech. During it he promised to “double the growth” of the US, also saying that his nation “will get along with any nations willing to get along with us”. Remember, he doesn’t actually become President until next year.
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*Khalaf Al Habtoor on Trump*
*Dubai Police Chief warns of danger of Donald Trump win*
So what does this mean for life in Dubai? Well we’ll bring you more on that soon, but for now here’s some of the reaction on Twitter from people talking about Dubai (or those living in Dubai):
And here’s a reminder of what the GCC said about Trump during his election campaign…
THE GCC ON TRUMP
Donald Trump at a press conference this month.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal
The multi-billionaire Saudi prince expressed his feeling toward the controversial frontrunner for the Republican nomination on Twitter: “You are a disgrace not only to the GOP [Republican Party] but to all America.” Adding: “Withdraw from the US presidential race as you will never win.”
Trump responded with: “Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money. Can’t do it when I get elected.”
Khalaf Al Habtoor
The prominent UAE businessman has provided words of support for Trump in the past, but it seems his closing borders stunt is a step too far.
Al Habtoor told CNN: “I view him as the biggest enemy of Islam. He is a man supporting ISIS… he is encouraging them, this is what they want to hear.”
Landmark
The retail giant behind Splash, Centrepoint, Home Centre, Iconic, Emax and many other stores, has removed all Trump Home products from their 195 Lifestyle stores across the Middle East due to his anti-Islam statements. Read more about that here.
Dubai Police Chief
Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the deputy chairman of police and general security in Dubai, took to Twitter to warn that there would be a “clash of civilizations” if Trump won – which references political scientist Samuel P. Huntington’s theory that future wars in the world will be fought between religious and cultural divides rather than country lines.
And here’s a reminder of why those people said those things…
TRUMP’S ANTI-ISLAM STATEMENTS
2011
In a 2011 interview, Trump said this: “The Quran is very interesting. A lot of people say it teaches love… But there’s something there that teaches some very negative vibe… Now I don’t know if that’s from the Quran. I don’t know if that’s from someplace else. But there’s tremendous hatred out there that I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Early December 2015
Late last year he propagated what’s widely considered to be a myth about uninhabitable areas of Paris: “If you look at Paris [it’s] no longer the same city it was. They have sections in Paris which are radicalised where they police refuse to go there because they’re petrified. We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised the police are afraid for their own lives. We have to be very smart and very vigilant.”
Late December 2015
In December he called for the ban of all Muslims travelling to the United States, this led Dubai-based Landmark group to pull all Donald Trump products from their shelves. It also called into question the businessman’s ongoing relationship with Dubai-based developer Damac (which appears to be continuing on as normal for now).
The media statement began with: “Donald J. Trump is 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.”
It then quoted him as saying: “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”
March 2015
After last week’s attacks in Brussels, Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump tweeted, “Incompetent Hillary, despite the horrible attack in Brussels today, wants borders to be weak and open-and let the Muslims flow in. No way!”