[US Election 2024]
Observing the Movements on Election Day
On the night of the 5th (local time), when the U.S. presidential election was held, Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris watched the vote count at her alma mater, a historically Black college in Washington D.C., while Republican candidate former President Donald Trump observed the counting at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In this election, where the race remained extremely close and uncertain until the very end, both candidates appeared optimistic about their victories.
On election day, Vice President Harris appeared on several radio broadcasts, criticizing her competitor former President Trump’s divisive political style and emphasizing messages of inclusion and unity. In a SiriusXM radio interview released after the counting began, she said, "The person who will enter the White House on January 20 (Inauguration Day) is either me or him," adding, "He will sit there planning revenge lists and airing grievances related to himself, but if I become president, I will organize a list of things to do on the first day on behalf of the American people and make progress through common-sense solutions."
That morning, Harris also appeared on a radio broadcast in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, stating, "People are tired in this era of division," and emphasizing, "We have more in common than what divides us." She also visited the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C. holding a bag of Doritos, rumored to be her favorite snack during the campaign, and personally answered voters’ inquiry calls. When she asked one voter, "Did you vote?" and received a "Yes," she responded, "Thank you," which reportedly sparked cheers and laughter at the scene, according to local media.
The location Vice President Harris chose to watch the vote count on election night was Howard University, her alma mater. Howard University, a historically Black college, was established as a specialized educational institution for Black people before the Civil Rights Act banning racial discrimination was enacted. The choice of this location is interpreted as symbolic, considering the potential historic significance of electing the first female president or the first Black and Asian American female president. Throughout the counting process, numerous supporters gathered on-site, repeatedly shouting, "Let’s make history."
Former President Trump watched the early vote count with acquaintances at his personal resort, Mar-a-Lago in Florida, that evening. It was reported that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and the largest donor during the election period, was also present.
Trump has been sharing real-time election information through his social media platform, Truth Social. He also posted a video wearing a red hat with the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" in the background of the banquet venue, confidently stating, "Tonight, we will have a big victory." He is also expected to briefly appear at a nearby convention center where thousands of supporters, organized by his campaign, are watching the vote count.
On the morning of the election day, immediately after voting with Melania Trump, former President Trump expressed confidence, saying, "It looks like we have a significant lead." He emphasized, "Tonight, we will have a big victory," and "We ran a great campaign. This was the best campaign." However, when asked whether he would concede if he lost the election, he left room for refusal by adding, "If it’s a fair election," indicating he was prepared to accept defeat only under that condition. During the time when voting was still ongoing, he also raised a conspiracy theory via social media, claiming election fraud was occurring in places like Philadelphia.
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