• The atmospheres at the watch parties for Trump and Harris were starkly different.
  • At Mar-a-Lago and Palm Beach Convention Centre, people were celebrating.
  • Howard University's crowd appeared more subdued and somber.

Former President Donald Trump has established a clear lead over Vice President Kamala Harris after winning key battleground states.

Several major news outlets have called Trump's victory in Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state that was the most sought-after prize on the electoral map.

And the mood at the Mar-a-Lago and Howard University watch parties could not have been more different.

Posts on X showed a bustling Mar-a-Lago crowd. Elon Musk and Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, appeared to be huddled in conversation with Trump at Mar-a-Lago during the watch party, according to posts by Musk on X.

At the Palm Beach Convention Center watch party, crowds of Trump supporters were seen celebrating as the votes inched closer to a victory for the Republican candidate.

Trump supporters outside the Palm Beach Convention Center. Foto: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Trump supporters outside the Palm Beach Convention Center early on Wednesday. Foto: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The mood was more somber at the Howard University watch party. Cedric Richmond, the Harris-Walz campaign's co-chair, announced at about 1 a.m. ET that the vice president would not give remarks at Howard University on Tuesday night.

"We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken," Richmond said.

He added that Harris would instead speak on Wednesday morning at Howard University.

Supporters reacting after it was announced that Harris would not speak at election night campaign watch party on Wednesday at Howard University. Foto: AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Supporters were pictured leaving the venue after it was announced that Harris would not make an appearance there.

Supporters of Harris leaving an election night campaign watch party at Howard University after it was announced that she would not speak there on Wednesday. Foto: AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Selina Wang, an ABC journalist present at the Howard watch party, posted a video of the scene at the university past midnight on X.

"Lots are leaving," Wang wrote in the caption of the post.

Northwestern University student Eli Kronenberg also posted photos from the location, adding that Harris supporters were leaving the venue.

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