Sky News: Some of the world’s famous names appear to have had a change of heart about Donald Trump since his surprise election win.
US President Barack Obama said in August: “The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. He keeps on proving it.”
But after meeting his successor on Thursday, Mr Obama was much more generous, telling him: “We want to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed the country succeeds.”
In October, actor Robert De Niro said he would “like to punch (Mr Trump) in the face”, adding: “Trump is so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk. He’s a dog.”
But after Mr Trump won the election, De Niro said: “As far as being president, we wait and see but I give the benefit of the doubt that he’s going to try his best because if he doesn’t do the right thing, it will affect him and his family too so we’re all in this together and it’s the most that I can say.”
When asked if he still wanted to punch Mr Trump in the face, he replied: “No.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May offered only a veiled criticism of Mr Trump before he was elected, saying: “I take a simple view about the way I like to see campaigns being conducted.
“I like them to be conducted in a calm and measured way with proper consideration of the issues.”
After a chat with the now President-elect, Mrs May was extolling the “enduring and special relationship” between the two countries, “based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise”.
She added: “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.”
Before the election, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was clearly angered about Mr Trump’s idea to ban Muslims from coming to the US, saying: “I think Donald Trump is clearly out of his mind if he thinks that’s a sensible way to proceed, to ban people going to the United States in that way, or to any country.
“What he’s doing is playing the game of the terrorists and those who seek to divide us. That’s exactly the kind of reaction they hope to produce.”
But after Mr Trump emerged victorious in the vote, Mr Johnson was also clinging to the “importance” of the UK-US relationship, something he said he “believe(s) passionately”, adding that he was “much looking forward to working with (Mr Trump’s) administration on global stability and prosperity”. Suddenly a man “clearly out of his mind” was to be a partner in the quest for “global stability”.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan initially appeared to be trying hard not to show his disappointment in his party’s chosen candidate but after a number of scandals, Mr Ryan was reported to have told a party conference call that he could no longer “defend” Mr Trump.
He had told colleagues that he would instead focus on stopping the Democrats from gaining control of the House of Representatives, telling them that they should “do what’s best for you in your district”.
He also described a verbal attack by Mr Trump on Judge Gonzalo Curial as “the textbook definition of a racist comment”.
But he met Mr Trump on Thursday and seemed happy to label him as “a man of action … ready to get working, he wants to get it done for our country”.
Some leaders have never made any effort to soften their opinion of Mr Trump, however.
Before the election, French President Francois Hollande said: “His excesses make you want to retch, even in the United States, especially when – as was Donald Trump’s case – he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier.”
Afterwards, Mr Hollande was congratulating the US’ next president, even though he made it clear he was doing so only because he had to.
He said: “I offer my congratulations, as it is natural to do between two heads of democratic states.
“Some positions taken by Donald Trump during the US campaign contradict values and interests we share with the United States.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also stuck to her guns following the election result, congratulating Mr Trump with a thinly-veiled warning: “Germany and America are connected by values of democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity of each and every person regardless of their origin, skin colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views.
“I offer the next President of the United States close cooperation on the basis of these values.”
