JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div id="box"></div>

CSS

#box {
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background: red;   
}
#box.transitionClass {
  background: green;
  -webkit-transition: background 5s;    
}

JavaScript

var $el = $('#box');
condition = false;
if (condition) {
  var $clone = $el.clone().appendTo($el.parent());
  $el.remove();
  $el = $clone;
};
$el.addClass('transitionClass');