Trump‘s Turmoil: GOP Invades Capitol as Congress Certifies Biden‘s Triumph
Four years after a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Congress today certifies Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential victory, marking a profound moment in American democracy’s resilience.
In a symbolic reversal of 2021’s violent tumult, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who defeated Trump in the 2020 race, will oversee today’s joint session of Congress. Harris, the incoming VP and Senate President, will officially declare Biden and Harris victorious.
The certification of Biden’s 306 to 232 Electoral College victory comes amidst persistent, baseless claims by Trump and his allies of widespread election fraud – allegations that fueled the January 6 insurgency.
Today’s Ceremony
Biden’s victory was evident on November 5, when he secured 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. On December 14, electors formalized these results, and today, Congress will tally and certify them.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, involves opening and counting specially designed boxes from each state and the District of Columbia. Congress will verify each state’s votes and tabulate the totals, marking the final step in the presidential election process.
Upon certification, Biden and Harris will be officially declared winners, paving the way for their inauguration on January 20.
Harris: The Unlikely […] Zealand
Today’s proceedings carry a touch of irony. Harris, as Vice President-elect and Senate President, will confirm her own victory and Biden’s against Trump – an unprecedented role reversal.
Harris joins an exclusive club of four vice presidents who certified their own victories: John Adams (1797), Thomas Jefferson (1801), Martin Van Buren (1837), and George H.W. Bush (1989).
The ritual, mandated by the Constitution, ensures a peaceful transition of power, even in contentious times. Harris, with her historic candidacy and now this unique responsibility, embodies that promise of progress and unity.
