Support

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

🚗 🚗 🚗 Donate your old vehicle to NHPR and support local, independent journalism. It's easy and free!

PHOTOS: After 2020 Election, A Nation Divided Reacts

By Nicole Werbeck

Published November 8, 2020 at 12:30 AM EST

Hundreds of people gathered in Times Square to celebrate Joe Biden defeating Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States.

Almost as soon as Joe Biden was declared the President-elect, narrowly defeating President Trump, celebrations broke out across America.

The sudden joy and relief following an anxious four-day wait for presidential election results was offset by anger, sadness and frustration from Trump supporters.

NPR worked with photographers around the country to capture a divided nation's mood. Here's what they saw.

New York City

<strong>NEW YORK CITY:</strong> Left photo: People celebrate Joe Biden's presidential election win in Times Square. Right photo: Kanene Holder, creator of "BlackIssuesISSUES," poses for a portrait. Holder's comedy show and web series uses humor to heal the racial divide. — **NEW YORK CITY:** Left photo: People celebrate Joe Biden's presidential election win in Times Square. Right photo: Kanene Holder, creator of "BlackIssuesISSUES," poses for a portrait. Holder's comedy show and web series uses humor to heal the racial divide.

<strong>NEW YORK CITY, NY:</strong> People in Times Square burn a MAGA hat. — **NEW YORK CITY, NY:** People in Times Square burn a MAGA hat.

<strong>NEW YORK CITY:</strong> Right photo: Nubia, also known as Black Super Girl, poses for a portrait in Times Square. — **NEW YORK CITY:** Right photo: Nubia, also known as Black Super Girl, poses for a portrait in Times Square.

Austin, Texas

<strong>AUSTIN, TEXAS:</strong> Trump supporters rally outside of the Texas State Capitol building. — **AUSTIN, TEXAS:** Trump supporters rally outside of the Texas State Capitol building.

<strong>AUSTIN, TEXAS:</strong> A Protect The Vote rally is held in Wooldridge Square shortly after former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. — **AUSTIN, TEXAS:** A Protect The Vote rally is held in Wooldridge Square shortly after former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

<strong>AUSTIN, TEXAS:</strong> A supporter of President Trump holds a rifle during demonstrations. — **AUSTIN, TEXAS:** A supporter of President Trump holds a rifle during demonstrations.

Atlanta:

<strong>ATLANTA:</strong> A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority shown wore these sneakers. — **ATLANTA:** A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority shown wore these sneakers.

<strong>ATLANTA</strong>: Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority get their photo taken in front of the mural of the late Rep. John Lewis. — **ATLANTA**: Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority get their photo taken in front of the mural of the late Rep. John Lewis.

Boston

<strong>BOSTON</strong>: Hundreds of people gathered on Boylston Street preventing any vehicle traffic to celebrate Joe Biden's presidential victory. — **BOSTON**: Hundreds of people gathered on Boylston Street preventing any vehicle traffic to celebrate Joe Biden's presidential victory.

<strong>BOSTON</strong>: Trump supporters rally in front of the Massachusetts State House after the announcement that Joe Biden has won the presidential election. — **BOSTON**: Trump supporters rally in front of the Massachusetts State House after the announcement that Joe Biden has won the presidential election.

Minneapolis

Washington, D.C.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.</strong>: Some people spontaneously celebrate from their cars. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.**: Some people spontaneously celebrate from their cars.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.:</strong> Revelers celebrate Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.:** Revelers celebrate Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.:</strong> Nina Polaris, of Bowie, Md., exalts Joe Biden's win as the president-elect. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.:** Nina Polaris, of Bowie, Md., exalts Joe Biden's win as the president-elect.

<strong>WASHINGTON D.C.</strong>: Left photo: people celebrate Joe Biden's win. Right photo: Small American flag seen on the ground of Black Lives Matter Plaza. — **WASHINGTON D.C.**: Left photo: people celebrate Joe Biden's win. Right photo: Small American flag seen on the ground of Black Lives Matter Plaza.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.:</strong> A person from the crowd climbs a traffic stop in front of the White House gates to cheer on the crowd as people clelebrate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the election. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.:** A person from the crowd climbs a traffic stop in front of the White House gates to cheer on the crowd as people clelebrate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the election.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.</strong>: People rejoice near the White House after hearing that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the election. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.**: People rejoice near the White House after hearing that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the election.

<strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.</strong>: People celebrate Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States on Black Lives Matter Plaza. — **WASHINGTON, D.C.**: People celebrate Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States on Black Lives Matter Plaza.

Related Content

Inside the TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting ‘attractive’ people

Bobby Allyn

A trove of secret documents show teens’ increasingly reliant on TikTok and how executives were acutely aware of the potential harm the app can cause young people, but appeared unconcerned.
A little mouse sets sail on a big adventure in 'The Ship in the Window'

Samantha Balaban

Author Travis Jonker and illustrator Matthew Cordell talk about the real model ship that inspired their picture book about a man, his son, a mouse, and the voyage that brings them together.
The stark divide between Harris and Trump on voting rights

Hansi Lo Wang

Harris wants to make it easier for eligible voters to cast ballots and rebuild Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination, while Trump pushes for more restrictions to voting access.
'There is no home:' Floridians find helping hands after floods

Jaclyn Diaz

Many residents impacted by inland flooding near Tampa can't return home as floodwaters slowly recede. One church in Valrico is providing food and other resources to residents in the neighborhood.
With no running water, Asheville finds other ways to flush thousands of toilets

Joel Rose

Since the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, most of the city has been without running water. The people of Asheville have devised elaborate systems to stay clean and flush their toilets.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.