Congress formally certifies Trump's election win

Congress on Monday certified President-elect Trump’s electoral victory, officially cementing his win over Vice President Harris ahead of his inauguration with no objections from any lawmakers as a tally of states was read on the House floor.

Trump captured the presidency with 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226 — a total that was confirmed during the certification on Monday, marking the final step in the election process before Trump formally takes back the White House on Jan. 20.

Republicans gave a standing ovation in the chamber when Harris announced Trump's victory was now certified. A bipartisan standing ovation broke out in the House chamber after Harris declared the joint session of Congress dissolved. The event lasted about 30 minutes before Harris gaveled it out. 

Harris presided over the event, donning a business-like or expressionless demeanor and refrained from any applause. The proceedings went off without a hitch. Unlike Trump’s 2016 win, no Democratic lawmakers attempted to block certification of his victory. 

A number of lawmakers aided in the count, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Reps. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). Vice President-elect JD Vance was also seated in the chamber during the count.

The proceedings also marked a full 180-degree turn from four years ago, when rioters stormed the Capitol to try and halt the certification of President Biden’s victory over Trump, who had spent weeks pushing false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent.

Trump, who four years ago stewed in the White House and opted not to speak out or intervene as the violence unfolded, spent Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as the certification played out without much fanfare. The president-elect called it a “big moment in history” hours before lawmakers arrived to certify the results.

In a video released ahead of the certification, Harris hailed the “peaceful transfer of power” as a bedrock of U.S. democracy, calling her duty a “sacred obligation.” 

“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile,” Harris said. “And it is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”

Despite the affair being largely symbolic, there was some drama surrounding the event. A snowstorm hit Washington overnight, creating headaches for lawmakers trying to return to the Capitol for the certification.

The certification had to go forward as changing the date due to the weather would have required a new law; the Jan. 6 date is written into federal statute. 

Capitol Hill was also on high alert after the events of four years ago, with fencing erected around the Capitol complex and a visibly higher presence of police throughout Senate and House office buildings and the Capitol itself. 

Trump on the campaign trail repeatedly sought to rewrite the history of the events of four years ago. He bragged about the size of the Jan. 6 crowd, called it a “day of love” and said protesters that day had “love in their heart.” 

At multiple Trump rallies, a rendition of the national anthem sung by those imprisoned for their actions that day played over the speakers. Pardoning those charged in connection with Jan. 6 was a major campaign pledge, and Trump has signaled he will follow through on his first day in office.