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Congress certifies Trump’s electoral victory ahead of Inauguration

Congress officially certified President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral victory on Monday January 6, confirming his win over Vice President Kamala Harris without any objections from lawmakers during the tally of states on the House floor.

Trump secured the presidency with 312 electoral votes compared to Harris’s 226, a total finalized during the certification process. This marks the last step before Trump takes back the White House on January 20. The announcement of Trump’s victory was met with a standing ovation from Republican lawmakers in the chamber, and a bipartisan applause erupted when Harris declared the joint session of Congress dissolved. The certification event lasted about 30 minutes before Harris adjourned the session.

Harris presided over the proceedings with a serious demeanor, choosing not to join in the applause. Unlike the tumultuous certification of Trump’s 2016 victory, no Democratic lawmakers attempted to contest the results this time. Several lawmakers participated in the count, including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), as well as Representatives Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). Vice President-elect JD Vance was also present during the counting.

This event represented a stark contrast to the chaos of four years ago when rioters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s victory over Trump, who had propagated false claims of election fraud.

While the certification was taking place, Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, referring to the event as a “big moment in history” ahead of the congressional session.

In a video released prior to the certification, Harris emphasized the importance of the “peaceful transfer of power” as a cornerstone of American democracy, stating that her role was a “sacred obligation.” She remarked, “As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile, and it is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”

Despite the largely symbolic nature of the certification, there was some drama surrounding the event as a snowstorm hit Washington overnight, complicating lawmakers’ travel to the Capitol. The certification proceeded as scheduled; changing the date due to weather would have required new legislation, as the January 6 date is established by federal law.

Capitol Hill remained on high alert following the events of four years ago, with fencing erected around the Capitol complex and an increased police presence throughout the Senate and House office buildings.

On the campaign trail, Trump has sought to reshape the narrative surrounding the January 6 events, claiming the crowd on that day was large and describing it as a “day of love.” At multiple rallies, a rendition of the national anthem sung by individuals imprisoned for their actions on January 6 played over the speakers. Pardoning those charged in connection with the events of that day has been a major campaign promise, and Trump has indicated he plans to fulfill this pledge on his first day in office.

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