The U.S. Congress has officially certified Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election during a historic session on Monday. The joint session, presided over by Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, marked the final step in confirming the election results.
Amid a winter storm and heightened security with towering black fences surrounding the U.S. Capitol, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate gathered to announce the electoral vote counts from each state and the District of Columbia. Trump secured 312 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win the presidency, while Harris received 226 votes.
“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.”
President-elect Trump celebrated the certification, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, “Congress certifies our great election victory today – a big moment in history. MAGA!”
In the November election, Republicans also captured a majority in the U.S. Senate and held a narrow edge in the House, positioning Trump to advance his agenda, including tax cuts and stricter immigration policies.
Security measures at the Capitol were intensified in anticipation of the certification and are expected to remain in place through Trump’s inauguration on January 20. This comes four years after supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol on the same day in 2020, attempting to block the certification of his loss to Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump continues to claim that his 2020 defeat was the result of widespread fraud.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
