Iranian media and leaders have been closely following the U.S. presidential election. Not only have they criticized the candidates’ policies, but they have also derided the political atmosphere and American democracy. “Did you see the debate and the way of their speaking, accusing and mocking each other? Do we want such a democracy in our country? Do we want such elections in our country?” President Rouhani rhetorically asked a crowd in the city of Arak on October 24. “You see the United States that claims it has had democracy for more than 200 years,” he said in the address broadcast live by state television. “Look at the country, what the situation is where morality has no place.”
#debatenight cartoon via Iran's Tasnim News depicts Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton locked evenly in arm wrestling match atop 2016 ballot box pic.twitter.com/xf6LUTKted
— Hanif Zarrabi-K. (@hanifzk) September 30, 2016
Seda weekly's front cover - "Will the populists unite?" #Iran #DonaldTrump #Ahmadinejad pic.twitter.com/uWuojCFUJs
— Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari) August 4, 2016
The headline below reads, “Obama’s Heir: famous but not popular.”
. @HillaryClinton on the cover of reformist weekly in Iran, by #BozorgmehrHosseinpour pic.twitter.com/tUy9VnHqE4
— Omid Memarian (@Omid_M) August 4, 2016
Even Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has commented on the race – and how the candidates’ positions have implications for the next step with Iran.
US presidential race & issues two candidates raised is a typical result of lack of spirituality & faith among those in power. #debate
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 19, 2016
American presidential candidates are racing in saying bad words against Iran which is their hostility.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 20, 2016
In the final days before the election, Khamenei discussed Trump and Clinton again. “Did you watch the recent debate between the two candidates for the U.S. presidential elections? Did you see the truths that they revealed? Did you listen to them? They revealed the true nature of America,” he said on November 2. Khamenei suggested that Americans paid more attention to Trump during the campaign because he spoke more candidly about problems in the United States. “They saw that what he was saying was correct. They saw it in the realities of their life. Human values have been annihilated and trampled upon in that country,” added Khamenei.
Ayatollah Khamenei: The two US presidential candidates revealed all about the United States in #debates. #USElections2016 pic.twitter.com/vUR1o0fIDz
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2016
State media has also shown an unprecedented interest in the election. On October 9, Iranian state media aired the second presidential debate. It was the first time state television had broadcast an entire debate. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting also aired the third and last debate in three languages, English via Press TV, Arabic via Al Alam News Network and Persian via IRINN.
Unprecedented! Iran state TV is live streaming this most historic US Presidential #debate pic.twitter.com/xy2hPmq3yK
— Negar نگار (@NegarMortazavi) October 10, 2016
The two candidates have regularly made front page news in Iran, often illustrated by colorful caricatures. Several publications have also covered the candidates’ comments on the state of the Iran nuclear deal after the election, the most important issue for Iranians.
Iranian daily @SharghDaily affiliated with Rouhani supporters: Hillary will toughen #IranDeal implementation (2/2) pic.twitter.com/DbLwonECrT
— Shiapulse (@shiapulse) April 25, 2016
Cartoon via Iran Fars News: Donald Trump will continue the West's warmongering
— Hanif Zarrabi-K. (@hanifzk) August 4, 2016
ترامپ و تداوم رفتار جنگ افروزانه غرب pic.twitter.com/ljDzsfGv2O
IRGC-affiliated Tasnim cartoon titled: H. Clinton says US will react firmly if Iran breaks nukes deal even by 1 iota pic.twitter.com/fldizjnIAC
— Shiapulse (@shiapulse) May 7, 2016
Cartoon via Iran's Fars News calls Donald Trump the scourge of the Republican Party
— Hanif Zarrabi-K. (@hanifzk) August 4, 2016
ترامپ، معضل جمهوریخواهان آمریکا pic.twitter.com/K3l62UiEOD
More Iranian #debatenight Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton coverage via Iran's Shahrvand newspaper -->
— Hanif Zarrabi-K. (@hanifzk) September 28, 2016
"Competing anti-Iran [candidates]" pic.twitter.com/9GUgcoYBJX
Trump’s controversial conversation with “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush in 2005 made the front pages of some 19 Iranian newspapers. The following covers and translations were collected by Iran Front Page.
19 Dey
Trumpgate: The Big Scandal
Etemad
Trump’s Scandal: Release of Trump’s Remarks about Women Hits US Like an Earthquake and Leads to His Apology
Jahan-e Eqtesad
End of Populist? Scandal Created after Trump’s Vulgar Remarks
Mardom Salari
Trump’s Ethical Chaos: GOP Candidate’s Vulgar Remarks Sparks Controversy
In the run-up to the U.S. debates, the state-run Namayesh channel broadcast the hit Netflix series House of Cards. The fictional show is a dark portrayal of Washington depicting power politics, corruption, infidelity and murder centered around the politician Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey. Some hardliners have apparently embraced the show as a realistic representation of American politics. “House of Cards has been able to skillfully show the deception in the complicated political sphere of liberal American civilization, as well as treason, power-hungriness, promiscuities and crimes behind those ruling in the country,” the hard-line website Mashregh wrote.
Weekly in #Iran can't believe watching #HouseOfCards on state tv, w/ minimum censorship. pic.twitter.com/T0it7QGf7L
— Hossein Derakhshan (@h0d3r) September 29, 2016