This Monday, the United States Congress officially certified Donald Trump's victory as the elected president following the November 2024 elections.
In a joint session presided over by the outgoing Vice President, Kamala Harris, the traditional Electoral College vote count took place, which resulted in Trump receiving a total of 312 electoral votes, compared to the 226 obtained by Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz.
As outgoing vice president and president of the Senate, Harris took on the role of overseeing the certification, a task she described as "a constitutional duty."
Their participation in this process recalls other historical moments when defeated vice presidents, such as Joe Biden in 2017 and Al Gore in 2000, oversaw the proclamation of their opponents.
For Harris, this symbolic moment became a bitter conclusion to her presidential campaign.
Despite the solemnity of the event, applause echoed in the room when Harris read the final results, both for Trump and for herself, in a gesture that underscored the institutional respect for the democratic process.
During the session, Harris called on the legislators to take their seats and oversaw the procedure, which included the reading of the state results in alphabetical order by a group of tellers made up of two representatives and two senators from each party.
At the end of the reading, Harris proclaimed Trump's victory, declaring the joint session dissolved.
Results and figures
Trump, along with his running mate, J.D. Vance, secured a total of 312 electoral votes, consolidating a victory that also included the popular vote, with 77.3 million votes compared to the 75 million received by Harris.
The contest was decided in seven key states, where Trump managed to overturn the results that led to his defeat in 2020.
The clarity of the results and the lack of objections during the certification marked a notable difference compared to 2021, when a group of Republican legislators unsuccessfully attempted to block Joe Biden's victory by objecting to the count.
Contrast with January 6, 2021
The electoral certification, which in previous years was regarded as a routine process, took place this time without any disruptions or controversies.
This process contrasted with the disturbances of January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to impede the certification of the results that led Joe Biden to the White House.
On that occasion, Trump and his allies attempted to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to block Biden's victory, something Pence refused to do, even facing death threats from the former president's supporters.
Since then, the laws regarding the role of the vice president in the certification process have been clarified, making it clear that the second-in-command does not have the authority to alter the electoral results.
This legislative change aimed to strengthen trust in the American democratic system and prevent potential abuses of power.
With this certification, the way is clear for the inaugural ceremony on January 20, when Trump and Vance will formally assume their roles as President and Vice President of the United States, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions about the certification of Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 elections
How was Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 elections officially certified?
Donald Trump's victory was certified by the United States Congress in a joint session presided over by outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump received a total of 312 electoral votes compared to Harris' 226. The session included the formal counting of the Electoral College votes and proceeded without objections, contrasting with the tumultuous certification process of 2021.
What was the difference in the electoral certification process of 2024 compared to that of 2021?
The 2024 electoral certification process unfolded without alterations or controversies, in stark contrast to 2021, when a mob stormed the Capitol in an attempt to halt the certification of Joe Biden. The laws regarding the vice president's role in the process have been clarified since then, ensuring that they do not have the authority to change the results, which helped prevent conflicts in 2024.
What were the electoral results in terms of popular votes and the Electoral College?
Donald Trump won the election with 77.3 million popular votes and 312 Electoral College votes, while Kamala Harris received 75 million votes and 226 Electoral College votes. Trump's victory was decisive in seven key states, reversing the outcomes of his defeat in 2020.
What role did Kamala Harris play during the certification of the election results?
Kamala Harris, as the outgoing vice president and president of the Senate, oversaw the certification session in Congress. Although it was a symbolic and bittersweet moment for her presidential career, she fulfilled her "constitutional duty" to proclaim Trump's victory, emphasizing the institutional respect for the democratic process.
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