Carly Mallenbaum

USA TODAY

As the final results of the nail-biting presidential election rolled in, CNN correspondent Van Jones articulated what many were thinking: A Donald Trump presidency is hard for parents to explain, and scary for immigrants to experience.

"People have talked about a miracle. I'm hearing about a nightmare," he said early Wednesday morning. "You tell your kids: Don't be a bully... don't be a bigot.. do your homework and be prepared. And then you have this outcome."

"You have people putting children to bed tonight, and they're afraid of breakfast. They're afraid of 'How do I explain this to my children?' I have Muslim friends who are texting me tonight, 'Should I leave the country?' I have families of immigrants that are terrified tonight."

He continued, with wet eyes: "This was a rebellion against the elites, true, it was a complete reinvention of politics... but it was also something else."

"We haven't talked about race. This was a 'white-lash' against a changing country ... against a black president in part. And that's the part where the pain comes."

Jones' emotional words have resonated with many on Twitter:

But Jones tried to end on a positive note. "Donald Trump has a responsibility tonight to come and reassure people that he is going to be the president of all the people who he insulted and offended and brushed aside," he said.