The U.S. Congress formally certified Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s victory during a session led by Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the November election.
The routine process, which paves the way for Trump’s inauguration in two weeks, unfolded smoothly, offering a sharp contrast to four years earlier when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to halt the certification of his 2020 defeat to President Joe Biden.
In her ceremonial role as President of the Senate, Harris conducted the state-by-state roll call of electoral votes. Harris handed over certificates for the electoral votes of Trump and herself.
“Today was obviously a very important day, and it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power,” Harris told reporters at the Capitol. “I do believe very strongly that American democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.”
Certification Ceremony Echoes Past Controversies
Four years ago, then-Vice President Mike Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. Similarly, in 2001, then-Vice President Al Gore held the same role after a contentious election against George W. Bush, which was so close that the U.S. Supreme Court had to intervene, ending legal challenges and declaring Bush the winner.
Senator JD Vance, present in the House chamber, also had his victory certified by Harris. When his electoral vote total was announced, Vance stood and waved to the members in the chamber.
Biden Slams Trump Allies’ Actions
Despite his 2020 loss, Trump continues to falsely claim widespread fraud and warned throughout his 2024 campaign of similar concerns until his November 5 victory over Harris.
Trump has pledged to pardon an undisclosed number of rioters, approximately 900 of whom have pleaded guilty to federal charges ranging from trespassing and vandalism to assaulting police officers, calling them “hostages.”
In a Washington Post op-ed, Biden criticized Trump’s allies for downplaying the violence of the 2021 Capitol attack and called on Americans to take pride in the resilience of their democracy in overcoming the assault.
“We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago,” he said. “An unrelenting effort has been underway to rewrite, even erase, the history of that day.”
Trump was impeached for inciting the 2021 insurrection after delivering a fiery speech outside the White House, urging his supporters to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.” Thousands of rioters stormed the heart of American democracy, assaulting police with metal bars and flagpoles, shattering windows, forcing lawmakers to flee, and chanting, “Hang Mike Pence!”
