Harris declares "America's democracy stood" as Congress confirms Trump’s 312-226 Electoral College win
On Monday, Congress certified Donald Trump’s presidential victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
The certification took place four years after the Capitol riot, where Trump’s supporters protested his 2020 election loss.
According to CNBC, the joint session of the House and Senate confirmed the Electoral College results, with Trump receiving 312 votes to Harris’s 226.
Harris presided over the session, maintaining a neutral expression as she announced the results, which drew applause from Republican members in the House chamber.
Harris had previously accepted her defeat the day after the November 5 election.
The certification ceremony, lasting approximately 30 minutes, adhered to its traditional role as a solemn and orderly process.
However, the events of January 6, 2021, remained a contentious point of reflection. Democrats and Republicans continue to debate the lasting narrative of that day.
Harris, speaking after the certification, told reporters, “I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.” She added, “Today, America’s democracy stood.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set the tone earlier in the day, calling the Capitol riot “one of the most shameful, reprehensible episodes in the history of this great nation.”
He criticised “election denialism” and condemned efforts to “whitewash” the riot.
Schumer also expressed disapproval of Trump’s proposal to pardon participants in the attack, stating it would be “shamefully, utterly outrageous” and an “insult to the memories of those who died” in connection with the riot.
The 2021 Capitol attack followed Trump’s refusal to accept Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen and pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes during the certification.
Harris, in contrast, has not questioned the 2024 election results or promoted conspiracy theories.
Harris described her role in the certification as a “sacred obligation” in a video obtained by NBC News. She said she is guided by “love of country, loyalty to our Constitution, and my unwavering faith in the American people.”
The certification occurred under heavy security. The Homeland Security Department designated the event a “National Special Security Event,” marking the first such classification for an electoral vote certification.
The Capitol was secured by a comprehensive law enforcement plan.
This heightened security came as the Justice Department continues to prosecute those involved in the 2021 riot, the largest investigation in US history, resulting in charges against over 1,580 people and convictions for approximately 1,270.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated Monday that the Justice Department has pursued accountability for those responsible for the Capitol attack “with unrelenting integrity.”
Trump, impeached a second time for inciting the Capitol riot, has pledged to pardon some of its participants, potentially including individuals who assaulted police officers. He indicated there “may be some exceptions.”
While the certification process appears to have returned to its pre-2021 format, the scars of the Capitol riot remain visible.
Hundreds remain jailed for their involvement in the riot, and the debate over its legacy continues to shape US political discourse.
