As Americans struggle through the stress of this difficult election, our German allies are sharing our anxiety.
German newspapers are pulling no punches in expressing which candidate they hope wins today’s presidential election.
#USElections2016 dominate Germany's front pages today. #USElection @realDonaldTrump @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/WcMj6MfgMV
— Andy Eckardt (@ameckardt) November 8, 2016
The newspaper “Die Welt” (The World) featured a close up photo of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump superimposed on an orange sunset. It’s the poster for the film Apocalypse Now, but it features Trump’s big orange face. The caption?
“Apocalypse Now.”
The article itself warns:
“The United States faces the greatest turning point since the Vietnam War.”
The morning news from the German city of Hamburg begs in its headline, “Please, not the horror clown.”
The text goes on to say:
” After the most terrible campaign in US history, the world holds its breath.”
German papers have been wary of Donald Trump for months. They have asked the question of whether Trump is a “sexmonster,” among other concerns.
Germany’s President, Joachim Glauck, has expressed his fears about a Trump victory. He said that Trump’s warm support of Russian President Putin makes him particularly dangerous for Germany.
Average Germans have also expressed both fear and loathing when it comes to Mr. Trump. They have spoken openly about the fact that Americans do not seem to have learned from the lessons of the Nazi era. Recent polls show that a full 77 percent of German citizens fear that a Trump presidency would damage relations between our Two countries.
NBC reporter Andy Eckardt is stationed in Berlin. He has shared some of the headlines and reports on Twitter.
On #USElection day, German cover pages getting very provocative — #USElections2016 #USwahl16 pic.twitter.com/AyACZVrtH8
— Andy Eckardt (@ameckardt) November 8, 2016
Very provocative, indeed!
"Please not the horror clown" #Hamburg newspaper headlines on front page on #USElection day! #USElections2016 https://t.co/1ho3N3NNNr
— Andy Eckardt (@ameckardt) November 8, 2016
As we go to the polls today, its vital for Americans to remember that our choice will impact millions of people around the world. We owe it to them to vote carefully. We owe it to them to prevent an “Apocalypse Now.”
This video is funny, although I’m not sure the situation itself is.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab.
