As news broke Saturday morning that Joe Biden was projected to be the 46th President of the United States, defeating incumbent Donald Trump, people across the country took to social media and the streets to react. Celebrations broke out in New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, while Trump supporters gathered in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
ABC and the Associated Press projected that Biden would claim Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, pushing him over the 270-vote threshold needed to win the presidency. He later was projected to be the winner in Nevada, bringing the total of electoral votes he received to 279 as of Saturday afternoon. President Trump received 214.
MORE ON THE RESULTS: Live updates: AP projects Biden will be elected president, wins Pennsylvania & Nevada
Reaction came immediately from citizens locally and nationwide, along with politicians both in the U.S. and across the world.
In Louisiana, a group of protesters gathered in front of the state capitol in Baton Rouge. WAFB reporter Kevin Batiste took this video at the capitol:
Trump supporters have gathered outside the Louisiana State Capitol to protest the #PresidentialElection results. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/7Y1JQePjeY
— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr) November 7, 2020
A meeting is planned Saturday evening in Lafayette at the Alfred Mouton statue to celebrate the results. Read more here.
Congratulations came in from Louisiana politicians, including Governor John Bel Edwards:
"Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory. 2020 has been a long, trying year for our nation and our state, but never has it been more important that we come together as Americans to move forward. I have always been committed to working with our President, regardless of party, in order to best serve the people of Louisiana. This is more important than ever as we continue to recover from three devastating hurricanes and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. I had the pleasure of working with then Vice President Biden during my first year as Governor when, like this year, Louisiana faced many hardships. I am confident that we will once again overcome the challenges before us, and I look forward to working with him again. I wish President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and their families all the best, and I appreciate the assistance the Trump administration has provided Louisiana during our times of need. "
Republican State Representative Mike Johnson called President Trump after the announcement, telling him to, "Stay strong and keep fighting, sir! We must exhaust every available legal remedy to restore Americans' trust in the fairness of our election system."
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, among others, released statements as well. Carter, who served as President from 1977 to 1981, said he and his wife Rosalynn "look forward to seeing the positive change they bring to our nation."
Please see the statement from Jimmy Carter below. pic.twitter.com/VTkkHETZCQ
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) November 7, 2020
Senator Mitt Romney, R-UT, wished his congratulations to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris:
Videos of nationwide reaction below courtesy CNN:
Video from WAFB in Baton Rouge shows protesters in front of the state capitol Saturday afternoon:
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