Protests erupted across the country following President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 victory, with demonstrators gathering in major cities like Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia to voice their discontent with Trump’s return to the White House.
Outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, protesters chanted, “Donald Trump, you fascist clown,” as they marched with banners reading “End the Trump Era” and “Trump Out!”—echoing an intense backlash against both Trump’s election and his policy agenda.
The protest in Chicago was largely organized around opposition to Trump’s support for Israel, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Organizers released a statement clarifying that the rally was planned before the election results, aiming to address what they described as “genocide in Gaza” and a broader “racist reactionary agenda” they attribute to the incoming Trump administration.
Trump’s strong alignment with Israel has historically drawn criticism, and his recent campaign promises to support Israel’s efforts in Gaza while pushing for peace have sparked concern about what his second-term policies might mean for the region.
BREAKING: Activists take to the streets of Chicago to protest Donald Trump being elected President. pic.twitter.com/NSujCfX91h
— Stu (@thestustustudio) November 7, 2024
Protest organizers used the gathering to rally around several progressive causes beyond Gaza, including immigrant rights, police reform, LGBTQ+ protections, and labor rights. In a post, the Philly Socialist Alternative declared, “Trump and the far right pose a danger to working people in the US and around the globe,” calling for strikes, walkouts, and other forms of organized resistance to counter what they see as an agenda of “war, deportations, oppression, and bailouts for billionaires.”
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the urban protests, there were scenes of celebration at college campuses and conservative strongholds across the country, as young Trump supporters took to the streets to cheer his victory.
At Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, a TikTok video captured hundreds of students rushing onto the campus green, chanting “USA! USA! USA!” Exit polls indicate that while the majority of Gen Z voters favored Harris, Trump won 43% of the youth vote—a 13-point gain over his 2020 numbers, suggesting that Trump’s appeal to younger voters has strengthened since his last election.
This is so incredibly low energy.
The left is out of steam.
Broken. https://t.co/7r0WeiC81W
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) November 7, 2024
With Gen Z playing an increasingly influential role in American politics, these protests and celebrations reveal a deepening divide. The discontent of left-leaning activists, protesting Trump’s policy proposals on issues like immigration, foreign policy, and policing, is met by a surge of enthusiasm from conservative young voters who see Trump’s victory as a call to action and a return to traditional values.
