JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<!--<div id="iDontExist"></div>-->
<div id="iExist"></div>
<div id='iExistAsWell'></div>

CSS

div{
    width: 100px;
    height: 50px;
    line-height: 50px;
    margin: 10px;
    background: #500;
    position: relative;
    text-align: center;
    color: #fff;
    
}

JavaScript

$.fn.exists = function(){
    return this.length > 0 ? this : false;
}
    
window.setTimeout( function(){
    
    var firstExistingElement = 
        $('#iDontExist').exists() || 
        $('#iExist').exists() || 
        $('#iExistAsWell').exists();
    
    firstExistingElement.animate({
        left: '+=200',
        backgroundColor: '#f00'       
    }, 2000, function(){
        $(this).text('First!');   
    });

}, 1000 );