US Congress certifies Trump’s election victory ahead of inauguration

The U.S. Congress formally certified President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the November 5 election on Monday, completing the final step before his January 20 inauguration.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, presided over the session in her constitutional role as president of the Senate.

“Congress certifies our great election victory today – a big moment in history. MAGA!” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

In a recorded video posted before the certification, Harris remarked, “The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy.”

The certification ceremony stood in stark contrast to the events of January 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, clashing with law enforcement and attempting to block President Joe Biden’s ascension to office.

The session proceeded without incident, as state results were read aloud in the presence of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Trump secured 312 Electoral College votes, while Harris received 226.

Lawmakers convened under heightened security, as heavy snowfall blanketed Washington, D.C.