(OPINION) The Empire State Building glowed red for brief moments overnight as Donald Trump clinched victories in key swing states, North Carolina and Georgia, sparking backlash from Democrats who accused the New York City landmark of “celebrating the end of democracy.”
The landmark first lit up red from 11:22 to 11:27 p.m. after Trump was declared the winner in North Carolina. It illuminated red again at 1 a.m. following his success in Georgia. The building’s social media account had announced beforehand that it would light up red or blue for five minutes after each swing state win until 2 a.m.
Although it only shone red twice as the election wrapped up around 5:30 a.m., some disappointed Democrats, already reeling from Vice President Kamala Harris’s lackluster support in New York City, voiced their frustration over the display.
“May Zeus himself strike this building down,” one user commented. In response, the Empire State Building’s social media team clarified that the decision to light up for swing state victories was made before the election results were known.
“We’ll be sparkling red for the next 5 minutes,” the building’s official account posted.
Donald Trump is set to return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States after securing the necessary 270 electoral votes.
The 78-year-old claimed victory early Wednesday morning from the Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, having won key battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
A victory in Wisconsin pushed Trump over the threshold, making his win official. Additional wins in states like Alaska, Michigan, Arizona, or Nevada would have further solidified his path to the presidency. Speaking at his Palm Beach watch party, Trump declared America is “entering the Golden Age” and called his anticipated win an “incredible movement.”
