As Donald Trump edges closer to a victory in the US presidential election, Iranian state media has remained silent on the topic, while many citizens express their happiness on social media.
With Trump currently leading Kamala Harris with a good margin of electoral votes to win, and Fox News already announcing Trump as the winner, there has been no immediate response from government controlled media outlets in Iran. Officials have also remained silent.
Israeli, French, Australian and other world leaders have already congratulated Trump on his victory.
In contrast, Iranians on social media have been vocal, expressing joy and humor over Trump’s win, with some jokingly referring to him as the Chef of the Cutlet.
The term references Qassem Soleimani, the former Quds Force commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He was killed in a US drone strike in 2020, ordered by then-President Donald Trump. Iranians opposed to the Islamic Republic mockingly named the day of Soleimani’s death Cutlet Day, drawing parallels between his fate and a ground meat dish popular in Iranian cuisine.
Adding to the reactions, prominent users and ordinary citizens alike shared images of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appearing tearful, suggesting he may be dismayed by the prospect of Trump’s return to office.
Some other, including the user Parinaz Etesam, expressed a mix of hope and speculation about what Trump’s re-election could mean for Iran.
"Is it possible that in a year when Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah are killed and Trump is re-elected, we could witness the downfall of the Islamic Republic?” Etesam wrote, reflecting widespread opposition sentiments.
Market indicators reacted swiftly to the election news. The Iranian rial dropped sharply, with the US dollar reaching an unprecedented high of approximately 720,000 rials on Wednesday morning. The spike in the dollar’s exchange rate has fueled concerns among Iranians that Trump's victory could intensify US sanctions economic hardship in Iran due to the likelihood of continued US sanctions that hurts ordinary citizens but at the same time weakens the government.
Some social media users commented that while a weakened rial could worsen poverty, others felt that it might bring Iran closer to political change.
Iranian government critics were also quick to comment on Iranian leadership and its promises of reform. Some users pointed to recent statements by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had vowed to lift economic sanctions on Iran, questioning whether his assurances could withstand a Trump administration.
Another tweet said, “Trump’s presidency means the end of the Islamic Republic’s four-year reprieve with America.” It suggested that Trump’s return could bring “difficult days ahead” for Khamenei and the IRGC, whom he described as facing repercussions for efforts to eliminate Trump.
While Iranian media remains silent on Trump’s election, social media activity and market reactions reflect the unease and anticipation many Iranians feel as they brace for what a second Trump term could mean for the nation.