US election results: Cheers and tears on the streets as Americans react to Biden鈥檚 win
Congratulations also pour in for vice president-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman to take one of the two senior roles.
Sunday 8 November 2020 04:51, UK
There are cheers and tears on the streets of the US as the country reacts to news that Joe Biden will be the 46th president.
As Mr Biden took the state of Pennsylvania and its 20 Electoral College votes, cheering could be heard on the streets of New York, Washington DC and other cities.
There was also congratulatory messages for vice president-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman to take one of the two senior roles in the White House.
Van Jones, a political commentator on CNN, broke down in tears following the news, saying it was "easier to be a parent this morning".
Philadelphia resident Renee Wilson, 49, had COVID-19 in April but started canvassing in October, working seven days a week for the past fortnight with a team of 500.
Between them they knocked on more than half a million doors urging people to support president-elect Biden.
She said: "I am on cloud nine. This feeling is like I could run a marathon. I feel like Rocky running up the rocky steps right now.
"Kamala has given me the courage to stand for what's right. You might go through some obstacles but you will get there.
"Rain, cold, when it got dark we showed up and knocked on doors and this is our reward."
A woman in Sterling, Virginia, told Sky News: "This is the best day America could have hoped for.
"We've had four years of Trump - we know what the rest of the world thinks about us.
"Now we can finally, finally, begin to be great again, and take our place in the world.
"The rest of the world can now look up to us again."
In Washington, a young black mother-of-two told Sky News that the result proved there was still "some faith and dignity in the soul of this nation".
"I want us to find a way to love again and I know it's going to take a while and a lot of work because we've gone through a lot in these last four years.
"There has been a lot of hate and things we've accepted that we should never have accepted in this country, so I want the love to come back - I want to see that change."
When asked about Ms Harris, the woman said: "I believe in her and I feel like, as black women, we sometimes don't get that support and we have so much to offer.
"We fight for everyone so I love to see that finally someone is getting that chance to show we can do things, we're very educated, we're powerful women - I think she's right for the job."
A man who was celebrating was asked about President Trump saying it was not over.
The man responded: "It is over. He's not the people, he's not the Electoral College."
But not far from Biden supporters, there were Trump supporters, deeply anxious about the future of their country and upset about what some of them see as a dodgy election.
One man in Philadelphia told Sky News: "I just want to make sure we protect the American constitution and that all Americans eligible to vote, that their votes are counted fairly as our founders wanted.
"I'm not satisfied that has happened because the evidence would suggest that there are a lot of irregularities in the vote counts and we want those explored."
Eyewitness by Siobhan Robbins, news correspondent, in Washington DC
By the White House, Washington DC erupted into a spontaneous street party.
Cheers fought with the sound of honking horns and applause as residents reacted to the news that Joe Biden had won the election.
"Get out of our house," a group screamed towards the White House as a huge Donald Trump balloon floated past.
Behind it, a line of women walked past banging pots and pans with kitchen utensils. They had clearly been at home when the news broke and dashed out to join the celebrations.
Biden/Harris flags fluttered in the breeze, as more and more people filled the streets.
Among the crowd was Emily Webb, 31, "I'm grateful to have a president who cares about human decency and human dignity for all Americans," she said.
Law student, Hope, 26, added, "I'm super excited to be here today and very relieved we will finally have a president who will respect the constitution."
Before the official announcement, a few hundred people had gathered in McPherson Square for a rally demanding Mr Trump stand down.
When Mr Biden's win flashed up on a big screen, people immediately began singing, dancing and chanting.
With tears in her eyes, Janice Jamison told us she was overwhelmed.
As a black gay woman she said the Trump years had been tough, now she was overflowing with pride at having the first female, African America vice president-elect.
"Finally someone who looks like me in the White House," she said.
Everywhere we looked there were impromptu displays of joy.
In front of us, three people hugged each other. They might have been friends but were just as likely strangers, it was almost as if Biden supporters had been holding their breath and could finally relax.
The atmosphere was both a party and a release, those celebrating believe they have their country back after four difficult years.
Jennifer Gold, 56, said: "I'm enormously relieved, and so tired. I thought that's all I would feel but it's such a thrill to be here.
"It's a really great moment for some of America. It's so disheartening that 60 million people voted for Trump and I'm hoping we can turn the tide. There's a lot of work to do."
Meanwhile, Republicans are furious at the result of the election.
Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani held a press conference in which he disputed the results of the election.
Ayla, 33, a Trump supporter in Philadelphia, said: "It's funny to me that they are so excited by something that's a projection especially when there's voter fraud going on in other states.
"I think it's irresponsible for the media to project the winner when there is so much discrepancy due to fraud in other states.
"It doesn't bother me to face the other side I'm here to show there are Trump supporters out there and we are not going to be railroaded by fraud.
"If Biden won legally I would support him but until we know there was no fraud then I'm going to support Trump."
Speaking from near the golf course where Trump was, he told Sky News: "We are going to recounts in all of the major states that have decided this election.
"States like Pennsylvania and Georgia have been at 99% for 48 hours. It's all going to be investigated starting Monday."
In Arizona, Brandon said people will live with the result and try again in four years.
A "stop the steal" protest was also taking place outside the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix.