‘This is insane. This is three Brexits’: Trump supporters savour special night

Yet what would follow would be a night of rising hope, of growing disbelief spreading around the room like a wildfire, or daring to believe that their man might just pull off the biggest upset in modern political history.

TV celebrity Omarosa Manigault, Trumps director of African American outreach, held court with reporters, insisting that the candidate was supremely confident but that she felt butterflies. She mused on the circularity of having worked on The Apprentice at Trump Tower years ago and now being back there watching her mentor become leader of the free world.

National spokeswoman Katrina Pierson also showed up. Are you nervous? someone asked. Pierson replied: Nothing to be nervous about.

The drinks began to flow. Someone said: Were making America great again. A friend replied: Trying, trying.

Each time Fox News flashed up a Trump victory in a reliably red state, the guests cheered and waved signs with slogans. Each time it showed Clinton had won a Democratic stronghold, they booed. Then the Republican candidate won Ohio and North Carolina. Suddenly, what had seemed like a pipe dream felt just a little more tangible.

Jeff Sado, 58, a property broker and film producer, said: Im very excited. It looks good so far. You know what they say: when you win Ohio, you win the presidency. Ive always liked Trump, and if you look at our country as a corporation, who better to run it than a businessman?

The crowd became thicker and noisier with more Make America Great Again caps in evidence. Confidence surged into every corner of the room. And then there was Florida. The crowd erupted in its biggest roar of the night so far and people high-fived. It was game on.

Wearing one of those caps, Benjamin Marchi, 38, who owns a home healthcare company, said: Driving up, we were depressed. We felt this was not going to go our way tonight. We were saying, even though he might lose, he was setting up the party to reach out for voters we havent reached since Ronald Reagan. But now it looks like he might win the whole thing.

Marchi made comparison with Britains vote to leave the European Union. This Brexit wave, it reaches across oceans. It really does. Never underestimate ordinary people because eventually they show up and vote.

The excitement also infected Diana Loffredo, 32, an events planner. Its crazy, she said. This is history in the making right here. I didnt think so before but now I really do. Amazing. Im amazed, ecstatic. She was the favourite and now hes turned the tables.

Her husband, Scott Loffredo, 32, was watching the big screen when Fox News declared Wisconsin for Trump, a stunning surprise. Thats it! he exclaimed. Its over! This is history!

Asked to characterise his emotions, Loffredo replied: Its hard to describe a feeling. I cannot overcome the utter disbelief. Its sheer shock. I cannot break that shell. This is insane. This is three Brexits.

The sports event atmosphere took on a darker tone. The crowd chanted: Lock her up! Lock her up! Every so often the TV feed cut to Clintons election party where faces were disconsolate. Trumps supporters booed and jeered without compassion.

Thomas Stewart, a member of Trumps national security committee, said of the Democrats followers: I think they were a little arrogant, a little unfriendly. There were some Clinton people on the plane today and they were taunting me because I had Trump material in my briefcase. I thought, Guys, you dont have to be rude.