One day after the polls closed with a Donald Trump presidency confirmed, protests broke out in cities and college campuses around the country, including in Chicago, New York, Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles. According to multiple news outlets, protesters shouted expletive-laden chants, gathered outside Trump Towers and blocked a highway in Los Angeles. Fifteen were arrested in New York, one group burned American flags and another even burned a Trump effigy.
In Chicago, just a 40-minute train ride from Wheaton College, over 5,000 police officers responded Wednesday night to protests across the city, armed and brandishing riot gear. The protests began outside of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in the Loop and spread to various other locations. Signs read “Hate Won’t Make America Great” and “Not My President.”
Trump’s “upset” victory is attributed largely to hidden votes that were not accounted for in pre-polling data. Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, thought many Americans did not reveal their intent to vote for the Republican candidate prior to Nov. 8, perhaps due to being “tired of arguing” or afraid to admit their support.
Just after polls began to close on Nov. 8, CNN Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta tweeted from New York City, “It will take a miracle for us to win,” quoting a senior advisor for the Trump campaign. Hours later, Acosta received a followup email from a campaign official: “Do you believe in miracles?”
The night began with some close races but no surprises. Once Trump won Florida and its 29 electoral votes, however, Clinton could not make up the difference for the rest of the race.
Early Wednesday morning, Trump exceeded the 270 vote barrier and became the president-elect of the United States of America. As of Nov. 9, there were still votes to be counted, but Trump’s lead with 290 electoral votes secured his position. He reached victory in part by winning the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio — often coveted by Republican nominees but rarely won.
Voter demographic analysis by CNN showed that 53 percent of male voters supported Trump in the polls, while only 32 percent of female voters did the same. Voter analysis based on age showed most Trump supporters were older — 45 to 65+ — than Clinton supporters — 18-44.
The New York Times, borrowing an analogy Trump himself has made, noted his victory was like an American Brexit but with a “much, much larger” impact worldwide. The Brexit vote, like Tuesday’s election, defied conventional wisdom and much polling data.