Thousands of Americans began to celebrate Joe Biden’s victory on Saturday, November 7, expressing their joy through shouts and honking a few minutes after the announcement of the election of the Democratic candidate for President of the States. United.
In Washington, under an almost summer sun, the crowd flocked to the White House and the Black Lives Matter Plaza, part of the artery leading to the presidential residence thus renamed in the spring to denounce the police violence against African-Americans.
The federal capital is a Democratic stronghold. The panels bearing the image of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the vice-president-elect, are proudly worn by their Democratic supporters, all masked and numbering in the thousands. “I am overwhelmed, extremely happy and so proud that we are going in a different direction”, says Amy Berger, 40, out with her son in a more residential area.
In New York, the hometown of Donald Trump, it is the same scenes of celebrations. The streets of Manhattan resound with screams and horns, residents stepped out onto the streets or onto their balconies, often knocking on pots and pans, in scenes reminiscent of the tributes paid to caregivers during the first wave of coronavirus in the spring.
Spontaneously, under a radiant sun, thousands of people converged on strategic points, in Columbus Circle, on the edge of Central Park, in Times Square or in front of the Trump Tower, HQ of the Trump Organization on 5th Avenue where Trump lived. until his departure for Washington in 2016.
“It’s been four years of suffering, he’s an odious man, really odious, I’m so happy he’s leaving, even though now we’re going to have to worry about all the people who voted for him, because they are still there ”said Jacqueline Brown, 58, a university professor who cycled to join the crowds at Columbus Circle.
“I am overwhelmed with joy, also said Bernie Jacobs, 84, who had his bagels and his coffee next to the Trump Tower. Every morning we come here and criticize Trump, it had been going on for four years, it was too much. We hated him from the first day he came to power (…). He’s been a president of nothing at all, with an oversized ego and zero talent. “
In eastern Atlanta, capital of the state of Georgia and Democratic stronghold, the cries and fireworks multiplied as the announcement of Joe Biden’s victory spread. Emmi Braselton, 37, a freelance designer from Atlanta, walks with her 2-year-old daughter Sylvie, who asked her: “What is all this, mom?” “I said to him, ‘The good guy won.’ And also: “There is now a woman in the vice-presidency”. She replied: “I want to be president” ”, she says.
In Louisville, Kentucky, supporters of the president-elect meet in their gardens to drink champagne. In Joe Biden’s stronghold, Wilmington, a quiet town in Delaware, celebrations have also started. At the Westin Hotel next door to HQ, the family and campaign team of the 77-year-old President-elect gave vent to their joy. “I am jubilant”, told Agence France-Presse Jim Biden, younger brother of Joe Biden.
On the side of the supporters of Donald Trump, some of whom have been demonstrating for days in front of polling stations where the counting is still in progress, we do not want to believe that the gambles are made. ” It is not finished ! It is not finished ! Fake news! “, sings a group gathered in front of the local government building in Atlanta.
After Joe Biden’s victory was announced, Jake Angeli, a regular at pro-Trump rallies in Phoenix, Arizona, yelled: “This election is not over! Do not believe this lie! We will go to the Supreme Court! ” Chris Marks, from Michigan, also doesn’t believe the votes were counted correctly. He thinks that the ballots must be recounted or that a new election be organized.
“I don’t think the race is over, I think there is some rough stuff going on”, affirms Paul Petrillo of Yardley, Pennsylvania. He too believes that the Supreme Court must intervene. “I am surprised that they did not declare the winner before the election”, he quips.
Donald Trump accused Joe Biden of himself on Saturday “Rush to falsely present yourself” winner of the presidential election. “We all know why [l]allies [du candidat démocrate] in the media are trying with so much effort to help him: they do not want the truth to come out ”, wrote the outgoing US president in a statement. “The simple observation is that this election is far from over”, he hammered.
Globally, however, across the United States, it was mostly Democrats who took to the streets to celebrate the end of what for them represented four years of constant crisis, chaos and tension.
The Americans waited four days before knowing the name of their future president. It was a close race in an extremely divided country. American television channels ended up announcing on Saturday that Joe Biden had crossed the threshold of 270 voters which will allow him to enter the White House in January 2021.
