'Dream big again' Roars of delight from the faithful as their idol does the unthinkable

The news came at 1.20am. Playing on a giant TV screen, Fox News declared that Donald Trump had won the all-important state of Pennsylvania. The room erupted in roars and shrieks of joy.

- David Smith

"It's over!” shouted one man, turning to hug a stranger. "Fuck Joe Biden!" shouted a young bro in a black Maga hat. "Fuck her!"

The crowd broke into chants of "USA! USA! USA!" - for them, a positive affirmation. For the rest of the world, it may have sounded like the ugly threat of a superpower bully it no longer understands.

This was the scene at Donald Trump's election watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, late on Tuesday and in the early hours yesterday. The unthinkable had happened. Trump, a twice impeached convicted criminal, appeared to have fought his way back to the White House.

"I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America," said JD Vance, a senator now set to be vice-president.

That may well be true. But to at least some of Trump's critics, it will go down as the moment America elected its first fascist president.

The people in the room would scoff at such a description. They welcome Trump's tough stance on immigration and policies they believe will make the economy thrive. They believe Trump has been the victim of Democratic hoaxes and sabotage for years. Now it is payback time.

The party was in a convention centre. Inside a cavernous exhibition hall, a giant "Trump will fix it!" banner hung on one wall with a "Dream big again" one opposite. People chatted, drank and helped themselves to a buffet.