4 years in the past, a mob of Donald Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol, sending lawmakers scrambling for security and throwing what was historically a routine ceremonial course of — certifying the electoral vote — into chaos.
Trump later was charged criminally in an unprecedented case with an alleged scheme to overturn the outcomes 2020 election, a case solely not too long ago dropped following his presidential election victory on Nov. 5.
On Monday, Trump’s win was formally licensed by lawmakers in a joint session of Congress.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was defeated by Trump, presided over the ceremony as president of the Senate.
Vice President Kamala Harris stands subsequent to Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson within the Home chamber of the Capitol as lawmakers collect to certify President-elect Trump’s election victory in Washington, Jan. 6, 2025.
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Republicans cheered loudly as she introduced Trump’s 312 electoral votes, whereas Democrats did the identical for her 226 votes.
Monday’s occasions marked a return to the ministerial activity at had lengthy been a subdued affair till Trump’s problem of his loss to President Joe Biden, although heightened safety measures remained in place.
A winter snowstorm blanketed Washington however lawmakers solid forward with the constitutionally mandated accountability. The Home ground was filled with lawmakers for the rely, which was the ultimate step in validating Electoral Faculty outcomes.
Regulation enforcement officers patrol exterior the U.S. Capitol as snow falls throughout a winter storm Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Pictures
Vice President Kamala Harris shakes arms with Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson after studying the outcomes confirming the Electoral Faculty votes throughout a joint session of Congress on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 6, 2025.
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This yr, President Biden emphasised the significance of America’s bedrock precept of a peaceable switch of energy however urged the nation to always remember what occurred in 2021.
“We must be proud that our democracy withstood this assault,” Biden wrote in an op-ed printed late Sunday by the Washington Post. “And we must be glad we won’t see such a shameful assault once more this yr.”
Harris, too, referred to as it a “sacred obligation” — one she mentioned she would “uphold guided by love of nation, loyalty to our Structure and my unwavering religion within the American individuals.”
As she made her option to the Home chamber, Harris was requested what individuals ought to take away from Monday’s occasions.
“Democracy should be upheld by the individuals,” she mentioned, elevating one finger within the air.
Vice President Kamala Harris shakes arms with Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson as they arrive for a joint session of Congress to certify the outcomes of the 2024 Presidential election on the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Speaker Mike Johnson, who was simply elected to a second term to steer the Home with Trump’s help, and Vice President Harris referred to as the chamber to order shortly after 1 p.m. ET after the procession of ballots and senators by means of the Capitol.
Harris opened the votes from every state and handed them to the Home tellers, who learn aloud the end result.
In contrast to in 2021, there have been no objections to the outcomes. Harris conceded to Trump the day after Election Day, and no Democrats have challenged the end result as many Republican allies of Trump did in 2020.
Vice President-elect JD Vance, nonetheless a senator from Ohio after being tapped to be Trump’s working mate, was seated within the entrance row in the course of the rely.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance applauds as he attends a joint session of Congress to certify the outcomes of the 2024 Presidential election, contained in the Home Chamber on the US Capitol, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Senate pages carry Electoral Faculty poll packing containers to the Home Chamber for of a joint session of Congress to certify the outcomes of the 2024 Presidential election on the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington.
Jemal Countess/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Trump, forward of the certification, posted on his social media platform that it will likely be “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY. MAGA!”
The president-elect might be sworn in on Monday, Jan. 20.
Trump has claimed his win is a “mandate” from the American individuals to implement his agenda for the economic system, immigration and extra.
He’s returning to the White Home with Republicans controlling each the Home and Senate. The 119th Congress was sworn in final Friday.
ABC Information’ Allison Pecorin and John Parkinson contributed to this report.
