JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground
HTML
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/select2/4.0.0/js/select2.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/select2/4.0.0/css/select2.min.css">
<button id="btn1">Empty the list</button>
<select id="test">
<option value="AL">one</option>
<option value="AL">two</option>
<option value="AL">three</option>
</select>
<p id="results"></p>
JavaScript
var $docInput = $('#test');
$($docInput).select2();
$('#btn1').click(function(){
$($docInput).empty().select2();
});