Congress certifies Trump’s victory in US presidential election: What comes next
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
American lawmakers confirmed the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in the US elections during a joint session of Congress and approved the results of the Electoral College vote, CNN reports.
As reported by the news agency, Congress officially certified Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, with the Electoral College vote proceeding smoothly without any objections or unrest.
This marks a stark contrast to the events four years ago, on January 6, 2021, when rioters stormed the Capitol during the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over the process as Senate President, announced the certification of the vote count results. According to the law, this declaration is considered final or, in legal terms, “shall be deemed a sufficient declaration” of the individuals elected as president and vice president.
Thus, Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes, while Harris secured 226 electoral votes.
What happened during the Congressional session
According to federal law, the certification of presidential election results is conducted during a joint session of Congress on January 6. Notably, during the previous certification of Joe Biden's victory, the process was disrupted by a mass protest of Trump supporters, which escalated into the storming of the Capitol.
During the session, participants of the joint meeting unseal certificates from all 50 states. Each certificate contains the electoral votes recorded by that state. The results are read aloud, and an official tally is conducted.
Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding as President of the Senate, officially declared Trump the winner of the election today, along with J.D. Vance as the next Vice President.
What comes next
After the certification is complete, only one step remains before Donald Trump officially assumes the office of President of the United States: the inauguration. This ceremony is scheduled for 12:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Kyiv Time) on January 20, 2025.
The inauguration, held near the Capitol, will gather politicians and members of the public, during which Trump will take the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States.
According to the electoral vote count conducted in December, Trump won with 312 votes to Kamala Harris's 226. A minimum of 270 votes is required to win the presidency.
Notably, one of Trump’s key promises is to begin negotiations as soon as possible to end Russia's war against Ukraine. RBC-Ukraine previously reported on how Trump’s rhetoric regarding this issue has evolved since his election.
