A small group of people has gathered on Fifth Avenue, diagonally across from Trump Tower. Two men with red “Make America Great Again” caps, in between a woman in a pink tulle skirt and a T-shirt that reads “Women for Trump”. The police will not allow the group to get any closer to Trump Tower, the former residence of US President Donald Trump, on this election night in New York, and no one else either.
“Did you hear that Trump just won Indiana,” says the woman in the pink tulle skirt after looking at her cell phone and nudging her two companions in the sides. “That was clear, that’s where Vice President Pence is from,” grumbles one of the two. “But the evening is still long.” Then he holds up a sign that reads “Trump – Pence – 2020” and shouts: “Four more years! Four more years! ” A woman standing nearby yells back: “Shut up!” The screaming duel rocks up, is watched by numerous police officers until they approach and the screaming slowly subsides again.
It is a tense election night in the center of the metropolis, which this time is only a sideline in the presidential election between the Republican incumbent Trump and the Democrat Joe Biden. In 2016, Trump and then-challenger Hillary Clinton were both in town. This time Trump is in Washington, Biden in Delaware, and all other possible major election events in the metropolis have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, the mood is much rougher than it was four years earlier. Fearing protests and riots, the police have cordoned off the area around Trump Tower and many other streets in Manhattan. Numerous shops, restaurants and hotels have barricaded doors and windows with wooden panels, and some department stores have also hired security personnel. A luxury hotel diagonally across from Trump Tower even had the box trees in the flower pots in front of the entrance wrapped in thick plastic wrap.
Not many cars and people are out and about in Midtown Manhattan that evening, and the restaurants are largely empty. Only in front of Trump Tower and in Times Square have crowds formed, many journalists and many onlookers. People in Times Square nervously look from their cell phones at the big screens where the news channels are forecasting and then back again. “Biden, you can do it,” a man calls out from a passing car. A photographer looks at the forecasts, which even hours after the polling stations across the country have closed, still promises no result, and sighs. “That’s gonna be a long night. Or even a few long days. “
People dressed up as Spiderman, Minnie Mouse and the Cookie Monster run through the crowds and pose for selfies. “I hear that things are going really well for Trump in Florida,” says a man, on whose mask a colorful cartoon character grins. “You always hear that there are so many secret Trump fans.” He begins to whisper. “I’m one of them.” Two other men pose with Trump flags, next to them a group with balloons is celebrating a birthday. A saxophonist plays the US national anthem.
A woman is sitting on a barrier with her two small children and a friend. “I came to Times Square because I wanted to see who would be our next president.” She did not vote herself. “I’m pregnant and with the two kids, that was all too much for me.” But you hope in Biden. “I really wanted to see Trump lose. But now I’m afraid that will take a long time. And I have to work tomorrow morning. “
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