JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div style="margin: 20px;">
    <ul id="whatever"></ul>
    <br />
    <br />
    <ul id="thisIsWhatINeed"></ul>
</div>

JavaScript

var stringWithHtml = "a <div> tag";

//here's what happens
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    $("#whatever").text($("#whatever").text() + "<li>" + stringWithHtml + "</li>");
}


//try this
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
$('<li></li>') // create an li
    .text(stringWithHtml) // pass it the text, as text not html
    .appendTo('#thisIsWhatINeed'); // append it where you want it
}