In what the New York Times considered, “a stunning repudiation of the establishment” and Business Insider considered “the biggest upset in political history,” Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States.
After tireless campaigning, complete with rallies, social media posts, speeches, debates and conventions, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off for the final time on Nov. 8 in a presidential election set for the ages. That night, Democrats gathered at the Javits Center in New York City, while Republicans gathered just blocks away at the New York Hilton in Manhattan. All day across the United States, voters showed up at the polls to vote for their candidates, and around 7 p.m. the results started trickling in. With Indiana, Kentucky and Vermont being the first states called– Indiana and Kentucky called for Trump, and Vermont for Clinton; anticipating Americans watched the results arrive. What started off as a definitive and celebratory night for the Democratic Party soon transitioned into a somber atmosphere. As the night progressed, with vital swing states such as Florida, Ohio and North Carolina going to Trump, the mood across this country evolved as Trump’s early victories ultimately turned into a dark horse defeat against Hillary Clinton.
After the Donald Trump presidency was affirmed early Nov. 9, the U.S. reacted. According to various media outlets, thousands of protestors took to the streets in cities like Chicago, Oakland, New York City and even Atlanta to protest their disapproval, with some going as far as to vandalize property and even attack bystanders. Others took to social media voicing their displeasure, creating hashtags such as #notmyPresident and #protestTrump to deny the Trump presidency. On the flipside, the KKK announced celebration parades in certain cities in America. Some minorities were even threatened by overzealous Trump supporters according to various media outlets. But despite the emotional outcry, many expressed hope for a Trump presidency and celebrated the end to an era of government corruption. But no matter what the reaction, Clinton, Trump and even President Barack Obama called for peace and unity among Americans.
Days after Trump was elected, he met with President Barack Obama to discuss the peaceful transition of power, and what was supposed to be a ten-minute meeting, according to Trump, lasted an hour and a half.
As always, and especially in retrospect of this election, the future is uncertain. With Donald Trump’s inauguration set on Jan. 20, there is no doubt that it will attract thousands of supporters and protesters as history is made yet again.
