The US Congress on Monday formally certified the election victory of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who lost the election in November, during a session chaired by Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The quadrennial ritual, paving the way for Trump’s inauguration in two weeks, went like clockwork and stood in contrast to four years ago when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the certification of then-President Trump’s 2020 loss. Had entered. To Democratic President Joe Biden.
Trump has consistently falsely claimed that his 2020 defeat was the result of widespread fraud, and he warned throughout his 2024 campaign that he had similar concerns leading up to Harris’ defeat on November 5.
Harris oversaw the roll call of the states in the vice president’s ceremonial role as president of the Senate. Known for her broad smile and upbeat demeanor in public appearances, she stood quietly on stage with folded hands as she handed out certificates of each state’s electoral votes for Trump and herself.
“Today was obviously a very important day, and it was about what the norm should be and what the American people should be able to accept, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there be peaceful The atmosphere will be a transfer of power,” Harris told reporters at the Capitol. “I firmly believe that American democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.”
Four years ago, then-Vice President Mike Pence had to preside over Biden’s victory. In 2001, then-Vice President Al Gore and George W. The same questionable discrimination was followed by a bitter battle between the Bushes, which ended so close that the US Supreme Court ultimately had to block legal challenges, leading to Bush’s declaration. Winner.
Sitting in the House chamber was Senator JD Vance, whose vice presidential victory was also certified by Harris. When his electoral vote totals were announced, Vance stood and waved to members in the chamber.
“Congress certifies our great election victory today – a huge moment in history. MAGA!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday.
The joint session of Congress continued even as a winter storm loomed over the nation’s capital, dumping about 6 inches (15 cm) of snow and disrupting travel.
The final certification supported preliminary findings that Trump won 312 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 226.
Republicans control the White House, Congress
Republicans also regained the majority in the US Senate and took a slight lead in the House in the November elections, giving Trump the party’s support to enact his planned agenda of tax cuts and a crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally. will get.
Democrats did not try to block the certification of Trump’s victory on Monday.
“We must renew our commitment to protecting American democracy,” No. 2 House Democrat Katherine Clark said in a statement earlier in the day. “As elected leaders, our allegiance must first and always be to the Constitution. We are here to respect the will of the people and the rule of law.”
Security was increased inside and outside the Capitol in preparation for the certification and was expected to remain in place until Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
The Capitol grounds were surrounded by metal fencing, hundreds of yards from the U.S. Capitol, and could only be accessed through checkpoints guarded by uniformed police officers.
A convoy of black police vehicles was present, led by a 10-wheeler Baltimore Police Mobile Command Center. Additional forces from the New York Police Department were also patrolling the area.
Inside, additional teams of uniformed US Capitol Police officers were checking IDs at entry points, including the doors and underground tunnels leading to the House and Senate chambers.
Trump has said he plans to pardon some of the more than 1,500 people charged with participating in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when a mob fought with police, breaking windows and doors. They broke their way through the Capitol and chanted, “Hang Mike Pence,” referring to Trump’s then-vice president, who unsuccessfully tried to prevent Congress from certifying Biden’s victory. in an effort.
In 2021, at the Capitol, rioters broke through police barricades, attacked about 140 officers and caused more than $2.8 million in damage. Several police officers fighting protesters died in the weeks that followed, some of whom committed suicide.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
