The United States Congress has officially certified Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, setting the stage for his return to the White House on January 20, 2025.
The certification occurred during a joint session of Congress on Monday, marking the final step in validating the results of the Electoral College vote from the November election.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was Trump’s Democratic opponent in the race, oversaw the proceedings, as reported by Al-Jazeera. The ceremony was brief and uneventful, a sharp contrast to the violent events of January 6, 2021, when a Capitol insurrection delayed the certification of Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
In her remarks after the session, Harris emphasized the significance of peaceful power transitions, calling the day a reminder of the essential tenet of American democracy. “Today was a very important day. It was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted—that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power,” she said.
The certification officially confirms Trump’s victory, with 312 Electoral College votes to Harris’s 226. Trump also made history as the first Republican presidential candidate since 2004 to win the popular vote.
The certification ceremony followed a contentious election season but was free of significant disruptions, in stark contrast to the turmoil surrounding the 2020 election.
Trump celebrated the certification on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the moment “a big moment in history.”
With this victory, Trump secures not only the presidency but also grants the Republican Party control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Many Republicans have rallied around Trump’s disputed claims about the 2020 election, which fueled numerous legal battles and investigations during his post-presidency. While a federal case in Washington, D.C., was recently dismissed, a state case in Georgia remains ongoing.
Despite the controversies surrounding his post-election challenges, Trump’s 2024 campaign has been hailed as his most successful, securing both the presidency and key congressional victories for the Republican Party.
In her post-certification remarks, Harris stressed the fragility of democracy and the collective responsibility to protect it. “America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it,” she concluded.
