"It's over!” shouted one man, turning to hug a stranger. "Fuck Joe Biden!" shouted a young bro in a black Maga hat. "Fuck her!"
The crowd broke into chants of "USA! USA! USA!" - for them, a positive affirmation. For the rest of the world, it may have sounded like the ugly threat of a superpower bully it no longer understands.
This was the scene at Donald Trump's election watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, late on Tuesday and in the early hours yesterday. The unthinkable had happened. Trump, a twice impeached convicted criminal, appeared to have fought his way back to the White House.
"I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America," said JD Vance, a senator now set to be vice-president.
That may well be true. But to at least some of Trump's critics, it will go down as the moment America elected its first fascist president.
The people in the room would scoff at such a description. They welcome Trump's tough stance on immigration and policies they believe will make the economy thrive. They believe Trump has been the victim of Democratic hoaxes and sabotage for years. Now it is payback time.
The party was in a convention centre. Inside a cavernous exhibition hall, a giant "Trump will fix it!" banner hung on one wall with a "Dream big again" one opposite. People chatted, drank and helped themselves to a buffet.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 07, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 07, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Lopetegui's job on the line if West Ham lose to Everton
West Ham will review Julen Lopetegui's position if they lose at home to Everton on Saturday.
Ancelotti rallies Madrid as limp defeats rattle fans
Milan loss serves as a sharp wake-up call for listless team, with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé struggling
Calhanoglu spot-on as Arsenal fall to handball
Mikel Arteta's problems keep on mounting. In the week that they were rocked by the surprise resignation of sporting director Edu, Arsenal surrendered their unbeaten record in the Champions League after Hakan Calhanoglu kept up his record of never having missed a penalty for Inter to score the only goal of a tightly contested game.
Mings hands Brugge win as bizarre penalty proves costly for Villa
There was hardly a murmur as Emiliano Martinez took a short goal-kick five minutes into the second half and then, a few seconds later, huge cheers from those decked out in Club Brugge blue and black as the ramifications of Tyrone Mings's brain freeze dawned on them.
Liverpool ace tricky early tests under Slot
After demolishing an excellent Leverkusen side, Reds look like the real deal domestically and in Europe
Onana insists United will 'step up' for arrival of Amorim
André Onana has backed his Manchester United teammates to \"step up\" and adapt to Rúben Amorim's style after watching Sporting defeat Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League.
Manchester City told to pay most of £11m wages owed to Mendy
Manchester City must pay their former defender Benjamin Mendy the majority of £11m in wages deducted from his pay packet when he was on rape and sexual assault charges, of which he was later acquitted, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Is this really all about Rodri? The reasons behind City's slump
Injuries have played a part in a run of three straight defeats for Guardiola's side but so have some surprising tactics
'You don't want people to think you are arrogant'
Rassie Erasmus believes his South Africa side are too often tarred as villains of the piece and deserve more love
Khelif to take legal action over leaks
Imane Khelif, the boxer who won Olympic gold amid a gender eligibility row, is taking legal action over media reports allegedly detailing her leaked medical records, the International Olympic Committee has said.
