US election: Obama victory celebrations – in pictures

Barack Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, celebrate with the vice-president, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill, after the president's victory speech on election night Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Barack Obama arrives on stage to deliver his victory speech Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Obama speaks at his election night party in Chicago Photograph: M. Spencer Green/AP

Michelle and Barack Obama with their daughters, Sasha and Malia Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Barack Obama gets a hug from Michelle after delivering his acceptance speech Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Obama and Biden embrace on stage Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Obama and Biden on stage after Obama's speech Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

The stage is coverd in confetti to celebrate Obama's re-election Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Emotional supporters cheer as Obama gives his speech Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Supporters of Barack Obama watch election results broadcast at Times Square in New York Photograph: Angelo Merendino/Corbis

An election party in St Louis, Missouri Photograph: Whitney Curtis/Getty Images

Jessica Clark celebrates in Times Square Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images

The Minneapolis mayor, RT Rybak, goes crowd surfing with his mother, Loraine, after it was announced that Obama had won re-election Photograph: David Joles/AP

An Obama supporter reacts in Harlem, New York, as she watches election results come in Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Mitt Romney stands on stage with his wife, Ann, after delivering his concession speech in Boston, Massachusetts Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Romney and his vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, hug as their wives, Ann Romney and Janna Ryan, embrace Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Supporters of the Republican presidential candidate Romney react to results in Boston, Massachusetts Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

A supporter of Mitt Romney sits on the floor in Boston Photograph: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Romney supporters look disappointed as Obama's re-election is shown on large televisions at Romney's election night event in Boston Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Romney supporters react to news of Obama's victory at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas Photograph: David Becker/Getty Images

Republican supporters sit on the floor as they wait for Romney to concede the presidency Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Republicans Caroline Knudsen and Dennis Nass watch election results at a party in Florida Photograph: Richard Graulich/ Richard Graulich/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Members of the media report from Romney's election night event in Boston Photograph: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images

Barack Obama's tweet after his re-election as president. He brought his sophisticated social media campaign to an emotional climax, proclaiming his victory on Twitter and Facebook just as TV networks were breaking the news. This post was his most re-tweeted, with 472,000 shares in three hours Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images