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There is applause and tears in the streets of the United States as the country reacts to the news that Joe Biden will be the 46th president.
When Biden took the state of Pennsylvania and his 20 Electoral College votes, cheers could be heard on the streets of New York, Washington DC, and other cities.
There were also congratulatory messages for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman to hold one of the two top positions in the White House.
Van Jones, a CNN political commentator, broke down in tears at the news, saying it was “easier to be a father this morning.”
Follow live updates when Joe Biden becomes president-elect and watch his victory speech on Sky News at 1 a.m.
Philadelphia resident Renee Wilson, 49, had COVID-19 in April, but started campaigning in October, working seven days a week for the past fortnight with a team of 500.
Between them, more than half a million doors knocked, urging people to support President-elect Biden.
Renne Wilson, 49, was a colporteur for Biden in Philadelphia,
She said, “I’m on cloud nine. This feeling is like I could run a marathon. I feel like Rocky running down the rocky steps right now.
“Kamala has given me the courage to stand up for what is right. You may go through some obstacles, but you will.
“Rain, cold, when it got dark we showed up and knocked on doors and this is our reward.”
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A woman from Sterling, Virginia, told Sky News: “This is the best day America could have hoped for.”
“We’ve had four years of Trump, we know what the rest of the world thinks of us.
“Now finally, finally, we can start to be great again and take our place in the world.
“The rest of the world can now admire us again.”
People gather to celebrate outside the White House in Washington DC
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In Washington, a young black woman, a mother of two, told Sky News that the result showed that there was still “some faith and dignity in the soul of this nation.”
“I want us to find a way to love again and I know it is going to take a long time and a lot of work because we have been through a lot in these last four years.
“There has been a lot of hate and we have accepted things that we should never have accepted in this country, so I want love to return, I want to see that change.”
When asked about Ms. Harris, the woman said, “I believe in her and I feel like, as black women, sometimes we don’t get that support and we have a lot to offer.”
“We fight for everyone, so I love to see that finally someone has the opportunity to show that we can do things, we are very educated, we are powerful women, I think she is the right one for the job.”
Democrats celebrating in Wilmington, Delaware, where Joe Biden plans to speak
A man who was celebrating was asked about President Trump saying he was not done.
The man replied: “It’s over. It’s not the town, it’s not the Electoral College.”
But not far from the Biden supporters were Trump supporters, deeply anxious about the future of their country and upset by what some of them see as a dubious choice.
A man in Philadelphia told Sky News: “I just want to make sure that we protect the American constitution and that all Americans eligible to vote, that their votes are counted fairly as our founders wanted.”
“I’m not satisfied that it happened because the evidence would suggest that there are a lot of irregularities in the vote counts and we want them explored.”
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be America’s next leaders
Eyewitness to Siobhan Robbins, News Correspondent, in Washington DC
Alongside the White House, Washington DC broke out in a spontaneous street party.
Cheers fought with the sound of horns and applause as residents reacted to the news that Joe Biden had won the election.
“Get out of our house,” a group yelled toward the White House as a huge Donald Trump balloon floated past.
Behind him, a line of women passed banging pots and pans with kitchen utensils. They were clearly home when the news broke and they rushed to join in the celebrations.
The Biden / Harris flags fluttered in the breeze as more and more people filled the streets.
Among the crowd was Emily Webb, 31, “I am grateful to have a president who cares about human decency and human dignity for all Americans,” she said.
Joe Biden had a convincing win in New York
Law student Hope, 26, added: “I am very excited to be here today and very relieved that we finally have a president who will respect the constitution.”
Before the official announcement, a few hundred people had gathered in McPherson Square for a rally demanding that Trump stand down.
When Biden’s victory appeared on the big screen, people immediately began to sing, dance and sing.
With tears in her eyes, Janice Jamison told us that she was overwhelmed.
As a black gay woman, she said the Trump years had been tough, now she was overflowing with pride in having the first woman, the African-American vice president-elect.
“Finally someone who looks like me in the White House,” he said.
Everywhere we looked, there were makeshift displays of joy.
In front of us, three people hugged. They could have been friends, but also probably strangers, it was almost as if Biden’s supporters had been holding their breath and were finally able to relax.
The atmosphere was both festive and liberating, and those who celebrate believe that they have recovered their country after four difficult years.
Jennifer Gold, 56, said: “I am enormously relieved and very tired. I thought that was all I would feel, but it is very exciting to be here.
“This is a great time for some Americans. It is so disheartening that 60 million people voted for Trump and I hope we can turn the tide. There is a lot of work to do.”
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Meanwhile, Republicans are furious about the election result.
Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, held a press conference in which he challenged the election results.
Ayla, 33, a Trump supporter in Philadelphia, said: “It’s funny to me that they are so excited about something that is a screening, especially when there is voter fraud in other states.
“I think it is irresponsible for the media to project the winner when there is so much discrepancy due to fraud in other states.
Trump supporters debate Black Lives Matter supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina
“I don’t mind looking the other way. I’m here to show that there are Trump supporters and that we are not going to be misled by fraud.”
“If Biden were to win legally, I would support him, but until we know there was no fraud, I will support Trump.”
Speaking from near the golf course where Trump was standing, he told Sky News: “We are going to do counts in all the major states that have decided this election.
“States like Pennsylvania and Georgia have been 99% for 48 hours. Everything will be investigated starting Monday.”
In Arizona, Brandon said people will live with the result and try again in four years.
A “stop the theft” protest was also taking place in front of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
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