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Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the certification of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election during a joint session of Congress on January 6. The certification confirmed Trump as the next president, marking his return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term.
The process, held every four years, involves Congress counting each state’s electoral votes. Trump secured 312 electoral votes compared to Vice President Harris’s 226, solidifying his win. Harris, as president of the Senate, formally declared Trump the victor.
Unlike in past contentious certifications, such as the 2020 election when the Capitol was stormed by protesters, no objections were raised by Democrats during this session. Even House Democrats who had previously accused Trump of inciting the January 6, 2021, insurrection refrained from challenging the 2024 results.
The session underscored historical moments in the certification process. For example, during the 2001 certification, the Congressional Black Caucus unsuccessfully objected to George W. Bush’s Florida electoral votes due to the lack of a senator’s support.
Trump’s return to the White House makes him the second U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland. His first term spanned from 2017 to 2021, and his second will run from 2025 to 2029.
In a statement after the certification, Trump reiterated his intention to pardon some of the individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Over 1,500 people have been charged for their roles in the attack, during which a mob breached the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win.
