Once Bitten, Twice Shy: American Embassies in Europe Cancel Election Watch Parties

Date:

Share post:



964fe441 257d 4cda b8bf c93cfa79245a

While we anxiously await election outcomes in the United States, diplomats and officials in European capitals canceled parties across Europe after many of them were awkwardly shocked by Donald Trump’s defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016.





They don’t want a repeat:

In stark contrast to pre-pandemic ballots, U.S. election night 2024 promises to be a sober affair in Europe, with U.S. officials in most European power centers having ditched the usual festivities. Embassies from Brussels to London, Paris and Berlin have decided against holding their usual watch parties.

The reason? The Trump effect. Many officials are still smarting from the shock 2016 election, when Donald Trump unexpectedly beat Hillary Clinton for the presidency — a political earthquake that left many top members of America’s diplomatic corps exposed as they absorbed the stunning election results in the presence of hundreds of journalists, foreign diplomats and officials who had been invited to election night parties. 

The memories of 2016 still haunt them to this day:

“I don’t think there was appetite to watch another Trump victory,” said a senior diplomat based in Europe, adding that the 2016 embassy events had been “calamitous.”

That cringe moment was captured by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, who recalled in her autobiography how she had invited all female ambassadors to the U.N. to her residence for an election night bash only to watch her dreams of America’s first woman president go up in smoke. 

Similar scenes played out in embassies across Europe. 

As the results poured in, many back then were left melancholy as they realized that Donald Trump was headed to victory. Instead of saying, “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to,” they’re just not going to hold them in the first place:





Attendees enjoyed wine and amuse-bouches as they watched the results roll in on giant TV screens. But as it became apparent voters were breaking for Trump, the mood darkened; one woman wept quietly. Trump’s poll-defying win revived uncomfortable Brussels bubble memories of the shock Brexit referendum result a few months earlier. 

Sorry, not sorry. 

As predicted, it’s a close race, but Republicans have received some good news:

BREAKING: Donald Trump Wins North Carolina

Oops: It Looks Like Kamala Harris Isn’t Doing So Well With Black Voters

NEW: Ron DeSantis Becomes a Legend As Amendments 3 and 4 Go Down in Flames

RedState will be keeping you up to date through the wee hours. Head on over to our live blog meantime and join the conversation!






Source link

Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden is a news writer for LinkDaddy News. She writes health, sport, tech, and more. Some of her favorite topics include the latest trends in fitness and wellness, the best ways to use technology to improve your life, and the latest developments in medical research.

Recent posts

Related articles

Nancy Mace Crushes Adam Kinzinger Over Woman's Bathroom Question

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) triggered a liberal meltdown by...

WATCH: The Liberal Meltdown Over Pam Bondi Has Begun

It's been about two seconds since Donald Trump announced...

Goodbye Joe! Don't Let the Amazon Swallow You on Your Way Out!

Leftist Cat Ladies, Wine-moms, and White Dudes for Kamala...

BOOM: Trump Names His New Nominee for AG

That didn't take long. In a surprise move, on...

WATCH: Fetterman's Reaction to Gaetz' AG Withdrawal Is…Unique

As we reported earlier, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)...