US Vice President Kamala Harris found herself charting a unique historical path when she presided over Congress on Monday, January 6, when legislators certified Mr Donald Trump as president-elect.
Mr Trump faced off with Ms Harris in the 2024 presidential election, winning both the popular as well as the electoral college votes. This was the second time in history that the same candidate had vied against a female candidate nominated by a major political party and winning against both.
“The state of the vote for the president of the United States as delivered to the president of the Senate is as follows,” Ms Harris told the House in the final step ahead of Mr Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
“The whole number of the electorals appointed to vote for president of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, the majority is 270. The votes for president of the United States are as follows; Donald J. Trump of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D Harris of the state of Carlifornia has received 226 votes.”
The US constitution requires the declaration to be made by a sitting vice-president.
Her announcement came four years to the day after a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters violently besieged the US Capitol as Congress formally certified Mr Joe Biden’s win against Mr Trump.
The violence sparked an unprecedented trial against Mr Trump. He became the first, and so far only, sitting or former president to indicted for a criminal offence.
Trump celebrated the moment on Truth Social, declaring: “Congress certifies our great election victory today – a big moment in history.”
He now officially becomes the 45th and 47th president of the US although he remains president-elect until his January 20 inauguration.
According to the BBC, heavy security was in place in Washington DC, and President Biden vowed there would be no repeat of the violence witnessed four years ago.
Whereas President Trump skipped President Biden’s inauguration four years ago, the 46th president is widely expected to be present at Mr Trump’s later this month.
The two leaders are also expected to meet at the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter the day after tomorrow.
Carter, the 39th president of the United States, will be buried at the Carter home and garden, which is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, in Plains, Georgia.
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