By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-06 23:48:18 | Updated at 2025-01-08 05:30:10
1 day ago
There was no drama on Monday as Kamala Harris oversaw the ceremonial certification of her defeat to Donald Trump. The US vice-president kept her remarks perfunctory, and she stood with her hands clasped in front of her while the results from each state were read out loud.
After less than half an hour, she formally announced that Trump had won the election. She smiled tightly as Republicans applauded.
“The chair declares this joint session resolved,” Harris said. “Thank you.”
The process was in stark contrast to the January 6, 2021, violence as Trump’s mob of supporters stormed the US Capitol as lawmakers were certifying his defeat to Joe Biden. This time, everyone honoured the results of the election.
“It’s a peaceful transfer of power,” Harris told reporters as she left the building on Monday. “It’s a good day.”
Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a winter snowstorm to meet the date required by law to certify the election. Layers of tall black fences flanked the Capitol complex in a stark reminder of what happened four years ago, when a defeated Trump sent supporters to “fight like hell” in what became the most gruesome attack on the seat of American democracy in 200 years.
