US Congress certifies Donald Trump’s 2024 electoral win

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The US Congress has certified Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 elections, in a peaceful procedure that represents a stark contrast to the violent attempt by his supporters to invalidate Joe Biden’s victory four years ago.

Lawmakers’ approval of Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris will clear the way for him to take office as planned on January 20, cementing a comeback that has defied his criminal conviction and the political damage done after his 2020 defeat.

The shadow of the attack on the Capitol building four years ago hung over the event, with tight security measures imposed during the joint session of Congress. But in this case, the only disruption came from heavy snowfall that brought Washington to a standstill, closing federal offices and schools.

“It was a peaceful day because we didn’t have election deniers on our side of the aisle — and we’re trying to act like constitutional patriots,” said Jamie Raskin, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s impeachment in the House four years ago.

Harris presided over the ceremony to honor her electoral defeat, as did Mike Pence, Trump’s vice president, four years ago, sparking the anger of his boss and the hatred of many in the Republican base.

“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the fundamental principles of American democracy. It is what distinguishes our system of government from a monarchy or a tyranny, like no other principle,” Harris said in a short video posted on X on Monday morning.

Four years ago, Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, falsely claiming widespread fraud and encouraging his supporters to “stop the steal” as they gathered on the National Mall on ratification day.

After their attack on the Capitol that day, some Trump supporters faced criminal charges and convictions for their actions. But the president-elect promised to pardon them as victims of political persecution.

After leaving office in late January 2021, Trump had an approval rating of just under 39 percent, but it is now above 47 percent, according to fivehirtyeight.com. Average polling.

“Congress certifies our great electoral victory today – a major moment in history. MAGA!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account ahead of the proceedings on Capitol Hill. In the November 5 election, Trump defeated Harris by 312 to 226 votes in the Electoral College and 1.5 percentage points in the popular vote.

But Democrats urged Americans not to forget what happened four years ago, describing it as one of the darkest days in American political history.

“We can never repeat the events of January 6, 2021. We must always work to defend our democracy, protect free and fair elections, and ensure the peaceful transfer of power. Regardless of our political beliefs, we are all Americans. “Violence can never be the answer to our political differences,” Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, said in a statement.

As the counting process continued Monday, Republicans in the chamber clapped and cheered when states won by Trump were mentioned, while Democrats praised Harris’ victories. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a hard-line representative from Georgia who is close to Trump, stood when his victory in the southern battleground state was read.

Taylor Greene, who voted against certifying Biden’s win in 2020 and repeated Trump’s claim that that election was “stolen,” said Monday was “completely different” because the polls were “completely different” due to “coronavirus shutdowns and the historic use of absentee ballots.” “. Four years ago.

“I had two very different elections,” she said. “The American people have made clear what they want.”

Republican John Thune, the new Senate majority leader, and Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, sat in the front row on either side of the aisle.

Earlier in the day, a half-foot of snow blanketed Washington, dampening the morning rush. The metro trains were running underground with empty seats. Snowshoes creaked on the polished floors of the Capitol, while police walkie-talkies blared mild threats.

“Elected officials across the country have faced an increasing threat environment in recent years, so we can’t take any chances when it comes to protecting members of Congress,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said in a statement.