In a momentous step forward, the U.S. Congress officially ratified Republican Donald Trump’s 2024 electoral triumph over Democrat Kamala Harris, setting the stage for his January 20 inauguration. This ceremonial certification was conducted during a joint session of the Senate and House, presided over by Harris in her role as Senate President.
Unlike the chaos of 2021, when a mob stormed the Capitol to contest Trump’s prior defeat, this year’s event unfolded with a calm yet heightened security presence. The Capitol was encircled by fences and swarmed with law enforcement officers, while a snowstorm blanketed Washington, D.C., in six inches of snow, creating travel snarls.
Trump, who has persistently alleged voter fraud in 2020, celebrated the certification on Truth Social, calling it a “historic victory” for his MAGA movement. The Electoral College tally confirmed Trump’s decisive win, with 312 votes to Harris’s 226.
The November elections also bolstered Republican dominance, granting them control of the Senate and a slim majority in the House, paving the way for Trump’s agenda of tax cuts and immigration reforms. Democrats refrained from opposing certification, emphasizing their allegiance to democracy and the Constitution.
Echoes of the Capitol riot still linger. With over 1,500 participants in the 2021 insurrection charged and new legal safeguards enacted, Congress has fortified the certification process to prevent similar disruptions. Trump, however, has vowed to pardon some of those involved, underscoring his enduring connection to his fervent base.
The stage is now set for Trump’s second act in the Oval Office.
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