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The champagne corks appeared at the same time as the fireworks. People applauded filled the streets. Tears of joy flowed, both in the live television studio and on the sidewalks.
The US presidential election and the subsequent outcome have aroused strong feelings among the American people. Like a long-awaited tidal wave, the celebrations spread across the country.
While Donald Trump turned to the golf clubs to overcome disappointment, the last 24 hours have been marked by a party atmosphere at various venues. Videos that have gone viral show thousands of people celebrating taking to the streets to pay tribute to the country’s new president, Joe Biden.
Howling cars with jubilant drivers marked the streets of major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. At the same time, hundreds of people gathered outside the White House with Biden posters as statements of support.
– The jubilant masses remember a liberated population in an undemocratic regime that has undergone a revolution, NORCE research center senior researcher Hilmar Mjelde tells Dagbladet
Danced in the streets
When the 270 voter cap was reached and officially confirmed, there was no longer any doubt. The 46th President of the United States is Joe Biden.
As Norwegians sat on the bench in front of the television screen to watch “Skal vi danse”, thousands of Americans danced in the streets. Signs with “You are fired!” and the image of Trump was raised high.
High were also the cries that had a strong brand of hope for better times.
At the same time, the Trump camp held a press conference outside a garage door in Pennsylvania, while Trump was still walking the golf course.
This is the new first lady
Historical satisfaction
Despite the jubilant scenes, Mjelde adds that the scenes now taking place in the United States do not represent the reactions of the country as a whole. In recent days, several protesters have also opposed a change of president.
Mjelde also points to historically high satisfaction among Trump supporters.
– Trump is a very unpopular and very popular president, among his own. In the first half of 2020, an average of 91 percent of Republican voters were satisfied with Trump’s efforts as president. In fact, average satisfaction with Trump among party colleagues is higher than for any other president since President Eisenhower (1953-1961), regardless of party, says the lead researcher.
Something completely different
Dagbladet’s political editor, Geir Ramnefjell, has closely followed both the election and the reactions. He says reporters who also covered the election when Obama won say they have not experienced scenes similar to the ones now taking place in the United States.
– They say this is something completely different from what they have seen before, says Ramnefjell, continuing:
– For me, this is reminiscent of the “intoxication of peace” after the Second World War. It doesn’t unite the whole town this time, of course. For a good half this is probably still about the same as after 1945; you get rid of what you have experienced as an authoritarian leader, who led the country in a terrifying direction. He challenged the very foundation of society, liberal democracy.
