The United States Congress on Monday, 6th January, officially certified Donald Trump’s victory in the November 2024 presidential election.
Vice-president Kamala Harris in her constitutional role as president of the senate, presided over the joint session, which saw the counting of electoral college votes from each state.
Monday’s session lasted less than an hour and went smoothly, in contrast to the January 6, 2021 scene, where a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, delaying the tally of votes showing that Joe Biden had defeated Trump in the 2020 election.
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Counting the electoral college votes on the 6th of January, Trump had 312 votes compared to Harris’ 216. There was no objection in the chamber, as each state’s results were read aloud.
After the declaration of Trump as the winner of the election, Harris made brief remarks, saying a peaceful transfer of power “should be the norm”.
“Today was obviously a very important day and it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy, is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power”’, Harris stated.
She further said “I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for, every single person, their willingness to fight for and respect the importance of our democracy, otherwise, it is very fragile, and it will not be able to withstand moments of crisis. And today, America’s democracy is good”.
Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States is scheduled to take place on Monday, January 20, 2025 in the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The event will be Trump’s second inauguration as president and the 60th US Presidential inauguration. James David Vance will be sworn-in as the 50th Vice-president of the United States.
Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan has denied Trump’s request to postpone his Friday, 10th January sentencing for his hush money conviction.
Trump’s lawyers had cited both presidential immunity and the demands of Trump’s impending January 20 inauguration, saying “presidential immunity violations cannot be ignored in favour of a rushed pre-inauguration sentencing”.
Although Merchan set the date for Trump’s sentencing last week, he has however noted that he was not inclined to send Trump to jail.
Merchan said a sentence of unconditional discharge, effectively putting a judgment of guilt on his record without a time or probation, would be the most practical approach, given Trump’s looming inauguration.
Edited by: Anthonia Umoh.
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