In Philadelphia, young Republicans explain why a Trump election victory is personal
'Trump has reawakened the American dream within people'
At a no-frills bar on Cherry Street in Philadelphia, a group made up mostly of young Republican men gather in a dimly lit back room, glugging beer and crowding around a television as they watch polling results trickle in.
Otto Rothmund, a 23-year-old who registered as a Republican this year, said he was positive that Donald Trump would win the election.
"I've been saying that confidently since before the results came in," Rothmund said. "So if I'm wrong, I'm wrong — but I'll lose a lot of money if so."
Long before Trump was projected to win Pennsylvania — a prized swing state that many political observers say holds the key to the presidency — this youth contingent of the GOP liked what they were seeing.
For some, a Trump win is personal.
"If I identify as Republican in any youth centre or group of young people, they tend to push me out and hate me," said Rothmund, noting how his support for Trump makes him feel alienated from other people his age.
Rothmund is a landlord and he said that he believes Trump reinforces his business aspirations. "Democrats seem to hate that," he said.
"You are pushed out of civil society if you vote for Trump."
Rothmund said that he voted for Biden in 2020, describing himself as an "accelerationist," a controversial set of ideas that have been embraced by some white supremacist groups.
"I wanted the worst possible candidate to win because I saw things going downhill. And I didn't want Trump — who I think is a great candidate — to be at the helm at that time," he added. "I thought that Biden should be at the helm when the ship went down."
Another attendee said he came to the party to be around like-minded people. John McAuley, a 36-year-old podcaster from Philly, sees Trump's version of the Republican Party as a new way forward.
"It's a new party. It's not the Republicans of the old. [There] has been more unity. [Trump's] given a lot of people hope. And we've got a real leader in there … So I think a lot of people are happy to see a competent person get back into office."
"He's a leader of men. I just respect him immensely. He's accomplished a lot, so he's somebody to look up to."
Eli Huber, 26, has voted for Trump three times. He came to town for the election from just outside Kansas City.
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Like McAuley, Huber said the Republican party is moving in the right direction.
"By and large, we're now opposed to wars that don't support Americans in saving American lives. Immigration's a big one. The drug epidemic. And the economy now. [Trump's] tariffs, I think, are a great change for the Republican Party," he said.
"The GOP is MAGA now. It's like Trump is the party, and MAGA is. Here we are. He's put America first, make America great again, do its best for our country."
Earlier Tuesday, Trump said that, regardless of the outcome, he had run his final campaign. If he wins, he'll be the first convicted felon to hold office. If he loses, he could end up serving time in prison.
When asked what a future MAGA movement looks like without Trump, Huber said people need look no further than Trump's vice-presidential pick, J.D. Vance.
"I think that he has a lot of potential to take the MAGA movement and continue what Trump has built. And so I look at people like J.D. Vance and I think he's the future of the party," he said.
"The American Dream that a lot of people felt has died, Trump has reawakened the American dream within people. And a second Trump term, once again, reiterates that and allows us to have that American dream."
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