In the early morning hours Wednesday, following a historically contentious presidential election, Donald Trump announced his victory before a crowd of supporters in Florida, and vowed to “seal up” the US borders to ensure immigrants are only able to enter the country legally.

Trump took the stage at approximately 2:30 am, having attained 267 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency, and with major media outlets reporting that he was on track to win several battleground states as they continued to tabulate votes. His appearance came shortly after the AP called Pennsylvania for Trump — a state that analysts believed would be essential for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to take if she were to have a chance at winning the election.

In his speech, Trump vowed to pay down US debt, to prioritize good education and military might, and to work toward unity amid historic divisiveness.

We will make America safe, strong, prosperous, powerful and free again. And I’m asking every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavor. That’s what it is. It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite.

Harris had hours earlier called off a planned appearance at her alma mater Howard University, where supporters had gathered to celebrate what they hoped to be the first Black woman president. A campaign advisor announced she planned to speak at the university on Wednesday, once more results had been finalized.

Many analysts had expected a tighter race with a more drawn out tabulation period.

This election was contentious amid growing divisiveness between Democratic and Republican voters. Democratic supporters had hoped to see Harris make history as the first Black woman elected president, while Republican voters sought the return of Trump, whose previous term saw significant conservative victories including the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the appointments of several conservative justices to the Supreme Court.

The election also saw the former president running against the vice president of the administration of Joe Biden, the current president whose approval ratings have fallen from a high of 55% in January 2021, the month he took office, to a current rate of less than 40%, with many voters citing inflation as a key concern.

Legal advocacy groups across the political spectrum were quick to respond, with some warning of the imperative of protecting human rights, while others lauded Trump’s victory as a step in the right direction for the rule of law.

Citing concerns regarding Trump’s first presidency and his campaign rhetoric, particularly involving immigration, the justice system, and foreign policy, Human Rights Watch executive director Tirana Hassan said in a statement:

Donald Trump has made no secret of his intent to violate the human rights of millions of people in the United States. Independent institutions and civil society groups, including Human Rights Watch, will need to do all we can to hold him and his administration accountable for abuses.

Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), also issued a statement, saying:

While Donald Trump may have been democratically reelected, a second Trump Administration represents a clear and present danger to our democratic norms, processes, and institutions. Fortunately, our nation is stronger than one man or political party — no matter how dogged they are in attacking our democracy.

Meanwhile, Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, said:

We look forward to this historic term, during which President Trump has an opportunity to make America great, healthy, safe, and prosperous once again. The entire conservative movement stands united behind him as he prepares to secure our wide-open border, restore the rule of law, put parents back in charge of their children’s education, restore America to its proper place as a leader in manufacturing, put families and children first, and dismantle the deep state.

These differing interpretations of what’s at stake with respect to the rule of law under a Trump presidency reflect surging desire across the political spectrum to strengthen the rule of law, paired with broad disagreements over what the health of the rule of law entails in the US.