On Thursday, the UK voted to leave the European Union, a move that though not entirely unanticipated sent shockwaves through the world. The pound's value dropped sharply against the dollar, global markets dropped downward Friday morning, and US politicians quickly moved to define their opinion about Britain's new status.Donald Trump, who at the beginning of month didn't appear to know what the Brexit even was, of course loved this expression of nativism, telling reporters in Scotland that it's a "great thing" that voters "took back control of their country.""The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free peoples," Trump wrote in a press release via Facebook. "They have declared their independence from the European Union, and have voted to reassert control over their own politics, borders and economy."He also tweeted that Scotland is "going wild over the vote" because "they took their country back, just like we will take America back." But Scotland, as Lily Allen dutifully pointed out, actually voted overwhelming to remain in the EU and may even secede from the UK as a result of Brexit.Other politicians took a more cautious route. President Barack Obama hasn't made any secret of his anti-Brexit views, but he released a middle-of-the-road statement, saying, "The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision… The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world."When asked about Brexit, House Speaker Paul Ryan didn't express a strong opinion one way or the other, though he did indicate he understood the sentiment behind it. "As Americans, we value the principle of soveirgnty, self-determination, government by consensus, and limited government," he said. "These principals are being expressed here at home and around the world… Our friends in the United Kingdom are our indispensable allies, and this is a very special relationship and that relationship will continue no matter what. Period, end of story."Hillary Clinton mostly followed suit. "We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made," read her statement on the Brexit vote, which also added some shade: "Our first task has to be to make sure that the economic uncertainty created by these events does not hurt working families here in America."Bernie Sanders struck a more strident tone, telling MSNBC that he is worried about "the breaking down of international cooperation," but that the vote also indicates that "the global economy is not working for everybody," echoing one of the major concerns of his campaign.Vice President Joe Biden was in Ireland and, characteristically, was blunt and to the point: "We would have preferred a different outcome," Biden told a crowd in Dublin. "But the United States has a long-standing friendship with the United Kingdom and that very special bond will endure."Read: The Brexit Is on and Britain Is Doomed
Image via Flickr users Yanni Koutsomitis and Gage Skidmore
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