Trump vs. Clinton: Relive the drama of election night 2016

By EDWARD B. COLBY Published: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017
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Photo Illustration Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.; AFP / Getty Images / Jewel Samad

Heading into election night 2016, Hillary Clinton seemed likely to make history as the first woman elected president of the United States. The Democratic nominee and former secretary of state had a resume tailor-made for the job, and faced an unpredictable newcomer to politics, Republican Donald Trump, who made his own rules on the campaign trail.

But the night became historic for a different reason, as Trump won several critical swing states and pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever in U.S. politics.

A year later, here’s a moment-by-moment look back at that dramatic night, as told through photos, videos and the social media feeds of Newsday staff, major news organizations including The Associated Press and the candidates themselves.

Social media posts are timed according to when they were posted.

8:10 p.m. Clinton the clear favorite

Early in the night, major election forecasters The New York Times and FiveThirtyEight heavily predict a Clinton win. The Democrat holds an Electoral College lead over Trump.

8:22 p.m.

Things are looking good for Clinton as the Times makes this forecast. A minute later, FiveThirtyEight says Clinton has a 75 percent chance of winning the presidency.

8:35 p.m.

8:42 p.m. Looking to make history

With slogans like “I’m with her,” Clinton’s campaign emphasized the historic nature of her campaign. On election night, thousands of her supporters stood under the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s actual glass ceiling, hoping their candidate would break the most significant glass ceiling of all, the presidency.

8:43 p.m.

9:14 p.m. Clinton takes New York

9:19 p.m.

9:35 p.m. Signs of trouble for Clinton

Trump hasn’t claimed any surprising wins by this point, but there are signs of trouble for Clinton as the race is closer than expected in some key states.

9:40 p.m. Trump gains ground

9:48 p.m.

Trump tweets a memorable election night photo of himself and running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, surrounded by family members.

9:54 p.m.

Financial markets fall in Asia as they react to the possibility of a Trump presidency, the AP reports. Asian shares lose early gains, tumbling as Trump gained the lead in the electoral vote count.

10 p.m. Democrats stay optimistic

10:33 p.m.

10:37 p.m. Trump begins breakthrough

Trump takes his first major battleground state — the perennial presidential bellwether of Ohio.

10:41 p.m. Clinton still trails

Even with this victory and another that would follow in Colorado, called by the AP at 10:43, Clinton trails Trump in electoral votes 168-131, according to the wire service. Trump has won 19 states to Clinton’s 12 plus Washington, D.C.

11:05 p.m. Part 2 of a 1-2 punch

Trump strikes another big blow with his win in Florida, called at 10:50. He adds its 29 electoral votes to his tally as the tide shifts.

11:11 p.m. Trump camp’s confidence grows

Fox projected Utah for Trump well before the AP would call the state for him, at 11:52 p.m.

11:12 p.m.

Trump takes another key state.

11:20 p.m.

At this point, six AP battleground states remain available on the map — Iowa, Nevada, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — and Hillary Clinton is trailing in electoral votes.

11:36 p.m. The idea of a President Trump emerges

11:42 p.m.

11:57 p.m.

Newsday’s first edition cover is sent to press.

12:11 a.m.

12:26 a.m. ‘Just shock’

After Tuesday becomes Wednesday, Trump claims Iowa while Clinton gets a victory in Nevada. But her prospects for the presidency are dimming.

1 a.m.

1:21 a.m.

1:23 a.m.

1:31 a.m. Nearing the presidency

1:50 a.m.

With Pennsylvania in his column, Trump just needs six more electoral votes to be elected president.

Just after 2 a.m. ‘She is not done yet’

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta makes brief remarks at the Javits Center but offers no concession. “She’s done an amazing job and she is not done yet,” he says of his candidate.

2:13 a.m.

2:31 a.m. Trump elected 45th president

Trump wins Wisconsin — a state that had not gone red in a presidential race since 1984 — and in turn the White House. The AP officially calls the presidential election for Trump at 2:29 a.m.

2:39 a.m.

2:40 a.m.

Newsday’s second edition cover is sent to press.

2:44 a.m. Clinton supporters mourn

Around 2:45 a.m. Trump appears before supporters

Trump addressed supporters for about 15 minutes. Watch his full remarks in this video from ABC News.

2:52 a.m.

2:58 a.m.

Many Clinton supporters remain in shock over the upset. Americans would eventually find out that Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes.

3:22 a.m.

Newsday’s third edition cover — its last of the night, with a photo of President-elect Trump giving a thumbs-up after his victory — is sent to press.

With The Associated Press