The recent electoral victory of former President Donald Trump has sparked a mix of emotions across America, leaving many feeling either elated, upset, or bewildered.

Some citizens are thrilled about his return to the White House, especially after the chaos of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack led to his political sidelining. Conversely, there are concerns about the implications for women’s health and immigration, along with frustrations that Vice President Kamala Harris couldn’t secure a win as the first female president. Many people are eager to put an end to the harsh rhetoric that characterized the campaigns.

In contrast to the post-2020 election situation, there seems to be minimal interest in disputing the election results and no significant calls for violence.

Trump’s win marks the first time since Grover Cleveland, 132 years ago, that a president has lost reelection only to reclaim the office four years later, much to the delight of his supporters.

‘Feels like My Team Won a Game’

Roy Singleton, 42, from Pittsburgh, expressed his excitement saying, “It’s a great day. It’s almost like the Steelers won a game.” He and his friends enjoying the moment outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Pittsburgh’s Market Square were seen smoking, chatting, and taking group photos.

Singleton criticized Harris for not distinguishing herself from Biden during her four years as vice president, stating, “For her to go along with everything Biden did really troubled me.” Once an independent voter, he supported Biden in 2008 but has since sided with Trump.

Had Harris won, Singleton would have suspected electoral fraud, but now he feels assured of Trump’s rightful victory.

Garrett Brinson, 34, a gutter installer from rural South Carolina, grabbed supplies at the Nixville Country Store and shared his views: “It went exactly how I hoped. America was on a wrong path, and now we may get back to prioritizing God. I believe that’s what Trump is aiming for.”

Pearl Phillips, a 72-year-old employee at the Country Store, noticed some customers were upset about the election results earlier that day, but she was happy with the outcome. She commented, “The right person won. Four years ago, gas was $1.97—now it’s over three. Groceries have increased, and working people haven’t seen any benefits.”

“I have no issue with a female president,” she remarked, “but the right one must be chosen. It doesn’t matter to me what color she is, as long as she’s capable of doing the job.”

In Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, real estate agent Bill Ross expressed his mix of anxiety and optimism while following the election results. He remarked, “We’ve experienced open borders, rising violent crime, and shocking inflation. The administration has misled us into thinking everything is fine.”

Seventy-two-year-old Gay Harris stepped out of a parking garage in downtown Springfield, Ohio, dressed patriotically in red, white, and blue, heading to lunch with her retired teacher friends. She expressed her happiness about Trump’s victory, saying, “It’s like Ohio State winning the national championship.”

“The Democratic Party has changed drastically from what it used to be,” she reflected. “I would support whoever I believed was the best choice, but in the last 15 years, I don’t favor their liberal policies.”

Betsy DeBry, a Trump supporter from Richmond Hill, Georgia, who teaches Natural Family Planning classes, celebrated his election with a coffee treat she rarely indulges in, before joining friends for lunch.

DeBry stated, “It’s not about the person for me, it’s about their governance. He doesn’t need to be doing this; he could lead a comfortable life. He stands up for us.”

On how she would feel about a Harris victory, DeBry conveyed, “Disappointment wouldn’t capture it. I would have little hope for my children’s future and fear that her policies would have negative impacts, particularly regarding immigration.”

I feel like my generation won’t be able to surpass the achievements of their parents.

Rich Washburn, 36, from Erie County, Pennsylvania, cast her vote entirely for the GOP and supported Trump mainly due to his strong stance against illegal immigration.

Born in the Philippines, Washburn herself is an immigrant. She arrived in the U.S. ten years ago on an exchange visitor visa, ultimately obtaining her citizenship around five years ago.

“On a personal level, I think my values align with his ‒ I mean, he can be quite arrogant ‒ but his vision for the country is what I hope for. I somewhat overlook his demeanor because I appreciate that he genuinely cares about the country, and that’s what matters most to me.”

‘Being a woman in this country is challenging’

Renee Erler, 50, was heading to the Main Street shops in Carmel, Indiana, seeking some distraction after feeling let down by the election results. She has a 24-year-old daughter, and both share concerns about the implications of their state and country shifting to a Republican stronghold. In Indiana, the GOP won every statewide position and decisively chose Trump over Harris.

“It’s frightening to think we’ve given so much power to one political party,” said Erler, who resides in an affluent suburb that’s slowly shifting towards a more moderate political stance. However, this change hasn’t progressed quickly enough to counterbalance the dominant conservative tendencies in the rest of the state.

Erler was stunned by the election outcome and questioned whether America is truly ready for a female president, or if there are other underlying factors at play.

Harris supporter Justin Tuerk, 38, from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, described the election results as alarming.

“The entire platform was riddled with misogyny and racism, and seeing him win the popular vote while promoting such views is quite shocking. I didn’t anticipate that so many people would either dismiss or endorse those ideologies,” Tuerk remarked.

Karrina Ferris, a youth-voting advocate from Nevada, spent her day working on law school applications, aspiring to run for office herself one day. She mentioned taking emotional breaks and “unfollowing many people” on social media.

“Being a woman in this country is tough,” said Ferris. “I feel devastated. I’m concerned about the potential lack of governmental checks and balances, and I worry about the Supreme Court. It’s disheartening that issues like sexual assault, racism, and sexism didn’t deter more voters.”

Stephanie Thomas expressed that she cried herself to sleep as the election results came in.

“This loss carries so much weight,” the 41-year-old from southern Alabama told YSL News. “It reflects racism, sexism, and ignorance. Some people felt abandoned by the Democratic Party and thus voted for a third-party candidate or for Trump. They aren’t ‘deplorables,’ they are just misguided, and now I feel this country is misled too.”

Faith Frank, a 22-year-old barista at a popular coffee shop in Evansville, Indiana, said she supported Harris largely because of what she perceives as harmful policies and rhetoric from Trump towards women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color. “Today feels somber,” Frank noted. “The election was a clash of extremes, making it difficult for many … I think there’s a widespread sense of fear.”

Al Hariston Sr., from South Bend, Indiana, recounted waking up at 3 a.m. Wednesday to the news that Trump had secured 256 Electoral College votes against Harris’ 219. He felt it was a predictable outcome.

“Part of me suspected he’d win because this country has its prejudices,” Hariston commented. “There seems to be resistance to having another Black individual in that role.”

He added, “Harris is intelligent, but she never stood a chance.”

The Economy is Central

Tuerk suggested that Democrats need to reassess how they communicate with voters.

“I told my wife several times that Kamala’s campaign ads felt disconnected from the realities of people’s lives. Meanwhile, Trump, despite my disagreement with him, managed to connect with working-class voters through his advertisements,” Tuerk shared.

In Reno, Nevada, Harris supporter Tim Hilliard, 47, expressed hope that Trump will follow through on his promises to reduce the costs of gas and groceries.

“We hope he remains true to his word and helps improve the economy and makes life more affordable, but we will have to wait and see in the coming days,” he said.

“For four years,” remarked Hilliard, who works as a chemical operator. He expressed hope that Trump’s “landslide” victory could foster a national reconciliation, enabling the country to overcome intense political divides. “We need to accept the outcome and strive to move forward positively, aiming to unify rather than remain divided,” Hilliard added. “With the election now behind us, I hope we can reach that point.”

Sarah Waline-Rittman, who opted not to vote due to a sense of futility, was doing her grocery shopping on Wednesday morning at Coborn’s in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Despite holding a degree in political science, Waline-Rittman felt that neither candidate would enhance her quality of life and doubted the efficacy of engaging with the political system. “The situation is still dire and costs keep rising, so we can’t depend on them to make improvements because they don’t care about our struggles,” she stated. “You cannot succeed by adhering to their rules. We need to adopt a new strategy—focusing on our community instead of expecting the federal government to intervene.”

‘Half of America is content. Half of America is frustrated’

Steve Clark from Ashland, Massachusetts, reminded his daughter this morning that Trump had previously been president and that things were relatively stable then.

“Ultimately, life goes on, and events will unfold regardless. I believe we shouldn’t get too caught up in the cycles of political shifts every few years,” he explained. “Whether Democrats or Republicans come out on top, the focus tends to be on achieving a majority vote, but we really need to work on bridging the gap between both sides.”

In downtown Reno, barber Damon Watson, 50, mentioned that he anticipated the country would continue on much like before. Identifying as a “little guy,” he noted that real power rests with Congress, and his customers have long held mixed political opinions.

“Half of America is pleased. Half of America is upset. Just like it was yesterday,” Watson remarked. “It’s been this way every day, all the time.”

(This article has been updated to correct a typographical error.)