US Vice-President Kamala Harris to Certify Trump’s Electoral Victory
On Monday, US Vice-President Kamala Harris will oversee the official certification of the results from November’s presidential election in Congress. This event coincides with the fourth anniversary of the Capitol riot, where Trump’s supporters attempted to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Donald Trump’s victory marks a significant political comeback after his defeat in 2020 and subsequent criminal conviction in 2024 — the first for a current or former U.S. president. Despite being out of office, Trump remains entangled in legal battles, particularly related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results that he continues to contest.
Following his loss in 2020, Trump and his supporters propagated baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, alleging that the election was stolen from him. On January 6, 2021, during the certification process in Washington, D.C., Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell” while insisting on a “peaceful” demonstration. He also pressured Vice President Mike Pence to invalidate the election results, a request that Pence declined.
Subsequently, rioters breached security barricades and vandalized the Capitol building, leading to multiple deaths. Trump eventually intervened and urged the rioters to disperse. He has since expressed intentions to pardon individuals convicted in connection with the riot, claiming that some are unjustly imprisoned.
In light of the previous violence, stringent security measures have been put in place in Washington, D.C., to prevent any recurrence during the certification process. President Biden has assured the public that steps have been taken to ensure a peaceful and secure environment.
As per the U.S. Constitution, Vice-President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the November election, is mandated to oversee the certification process. Trump secured victories in all seven battleground states, securing his win in the electoral college system. Harris will announce the total electoral college votes received by each candidate during the certification.
Trump’s second term will officially begin after his inauguration on January 20. This marks the first time since 2017 that the president’s party will hold a narrow majority in both houses of Congress.
