American voters in London pitch competing visions of US

LONDON -- More than 4,000 miles from home, mini groups of Democratic and Republican voters successful nan British superior gathered wrong 2 miles of each different to witnesser what some sides person framed arsenic 1 of -- if not nan -- astir important elections successful American history.

There are immoderate 306,000 American voters successful nan U.K., according to nan Federal Voting Assistance Program, making them nan 2nd largest overseas voting artifact down their 660,000 compatriots successful Canada.

Those who gathered successful London connected Tuesday were pitching vastly different visions crafted by wildly different directors.

Vice President Kamala Harris had vowed to springiness opponents "a spot astatine my table," promising to span nan widening divides fracturing American governmental culture. She decried erstwhile President Donald Trump arsenic a "fascist" seeking "unchecked power."

Briton Paul Chambers and woman Cheryl Martin from New York respond while watching nan predetermination sum during a Democrats Abroad arena successful a pub successful London, U.K., connected Nov. 6, 2024.

Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Trump had threatened to group nan subject connected what he called nan "enemy within," telling supporters they "won't person a state anymore" if he does not triumph backmost nan White House. The erstwhile president still baselessly claims he won nan 2020 election, and was hesitant to perpetrate to accepting nan results of Tuesday's ballot if he mislaid again.

The Democrats Abroad arena successful cardinal London kicked disconnected conscionable earlier polls closed, erstwhile assurance was precocious among Democratic voters successful nan U.K. and elsewhere. The group booked its arena location done until Wednesday morning, prepared for a agelong hold for a clear result.

By nan early hours of Wednesday morning, though, Trump had claimed triumph arsenic he neared nan all-important 270 electoral assemblage ballot mark. Harris cancelled her planned reside astatine Howard University successful Washington, D.C., arsenic supporters trickled away.

Democrats Abroad U.K. Chair Kristin Wolfe was among those who were supremely assured successful nan last hours of voting.

"I consciousness for illustration this is really going to beryllium nan night," she told ABC News. "Not only are we going to move a page connected this old, old rhetoric that has been coming retired of nan Trump campy for 9 years, but we besides get to look guardant to thing truthful optimistic."

The ornamentation was assured. The arena location -- nan specifications of which were not published owed to information concerns -- was decked retired pinch red, achromatic and bluish bunting, hung astir countless posters base Harris' run refrain, "When we fight, we win."

"I'm trying not to get excessively excited," Harris protagonist PK Whalen said. "We've been disappointed before."

One unpaid told ABC News they felt for illustration "a joyful warrior," and that they were "completely and utterly convinced" that Harris would win.

Others were little sure, but still positive. "I tin either beryllium worried aliases I tin dream for nan best," attendee Kshitij Kumar said.

The organized Republican footprint successful nan U.K. is smaller. Unlike nan Democrats Abroad UK group which is organized and funded by nan Democratic Party, Republicans Overseas is not an charismatic portion of nan GOP.

Republican organizers for illustration Greg Swenson ever expect their squad to spot 2nd wrong nan U.K., fixed that Americans surviving successful nan state skew towards nan demographic, acquisition and economical groups pinch which Democrats mostly execute better. Some groups, though -- peculiarly nan 10,000 aliases truthful subject unit successful nan U.K. -- do somewhat thin right.

A barroom base nan image of Vice President Kamala Harris is trim during an arena by Democrats Abroad successful a pub successful London, U.K. connected Nov. 6, 2024.

Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Swenson and a fistful of colleagues planned to stitchery astatine a barroom successful cardinal London connected Tuesday to travel nan results while juggling media appearances. A larger arena was planned for Wednesday night. "Hopefully it's a triumph party," Swenson told ABC News.

If not, Swenson said he hoped for a clear consequence and a graceful consequence from Trump. "If Trump doesn't judge nan results of nan election, I don't deliberation that's bully news," he said, adding that nan erstwhile president's baseless claims of electoral theft successful 2020 were "foolish" from a run perspective.

"I would emotion it if Trump won by respective points," Swenson said. "And if Kamala wins, bully for her. I dream it's by 5 points."

Foreign argumentation mostly does not move nan needle importantly successful U.S. statesmanlike contests, though its value whitethorn beryllium somewhat elevated successful 2024 pinch ongoing wars successful eastbound Europe successful nan Middle East successful which U.S. forces are profoundly progressive -- and successful immoderate cases, straight threatened.

Foreign argumentation will apt beryllium a much pressing interest for Americans surviving extracurricular of nan country, arsenic mightiness beryllium nan thought that this week's predetermination will formed nan state successful 1 of 2 very different world roles.

Trump's connection to nan world, Swenson said, is that America remains "the onshore of opportunity, and there's a logic group want to move here."

"We tin beryllium prosperous again -- that's amended for nan world and we tin bring bid back," he added, though acknowledged Trump "might exaggerate a small spot there."

"People mightiness not miss Trump, but they miss bid and prosperity. And I deliberation Americans surviving overseas are a small person to it."

The erstwhile president's clasp of arguable figures for illustration Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and erstwhile Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Swenson said, suggests that nan caller Republican activity is 1 of "future- and forward- looking group that aren't yesterday's news."

For Trump's opponents, his predetermination would mean a return to provocative nationalism, naked transactionalism and fawning praise of authoritarians.

If Trump wins, "It intends we cannot springiness up," Wolfe said.

"But I don't deliberation it's going to happen. I deliberation that nan American group cognize precisely what Donald Trump stands for, and they don't for illustration it."